Kevin O’Connell Undercuts Common Vikings Trade Theory
Kevin O’Connell probably wasn’t trying to do so, but some of his recent words helped to undermine a common Vikings trade theory.
What’s Minnesota going to do with Sam Darnold? Well, one option is to apply the franchise tag and then seek a trade. A recent comment, though, seems to refute that option. Kevin Seifert of ESPN relayed the key quote from the head coach: “[Sam Darnold has] earned the right to be a free agent, but we will continue to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his representation.” Per the team’s top coach, Darnold will go into free agency, suggesting that the team will not be placing the franchise tag on their promising passer.
Kevin O’Connell and The Vikings Trade Theory
Admittedly, I’ve been pushing the tag-and-trade option. Or, at least, I’ve been arguing that it’s consistent with how Minnesota does business. So, a predictive analysis rather than a prescriptive one.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has proven to be a GM who is constantly searching for value. Simply letting a starting-level quarterback walk away for a potential compensatory selection may not be the best approach. Remember: comp picks can get cancelled out by incoming talent, so there’s no guarantee that Darnold’s departure would lead to a Vikings draft pick. At best, there would be a late 3rd; at worst, nothing.
The benefit of a tag-and-trade is that the compensatory formula wouldn’t factor into the mix. The Vikings could snag a decent pick and get it in time for 2025.
The critical factor, however, is that Minnesota includes Sam Darnold in the decision making. The top decision makers in Eagan have a reputation for treating their players well. Maintaining that healthy culture may involve keeping Darnold in the loop so that the quarterback goes somewhere that’s actually on his wish list.
Taking that route has the downside of (potentially) needing to avoid doing business with the highest bidder. All Adofo-Mensah needs, though, is two interested franchises to get a pretty good return. One could envision a scenario where a 2nd or a 3rd gets the job done.
The word from O’Connell, though, is that Darnold is moving toward free agency (something he reiterates elsewhere). There seems to be some internal comfort with allowing the talented passer to venture into the free agency and see how high the price tag goes.
For whatever it’s worth, Seifert offered an assessment of the process that Minnesota is working through at quarterback: “Over the past three weeks, the Vikings have been working through options that include signing Darnold to a multiyear contract, using the franchise tag to retain him for 2025 or handing the keys to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who has resumed on-field training after sitting out the season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.”
While Seifert is (very likely) right to note that a franchise tag for Darnold is a possibility that has been under consideration, O’Connell’s words appear to suggest that allowing the QB1 to enter free agency in March is the eventual outcome.
And, to be sure, there are others who have opinions on how things will shake out (who doesn’t?). Apparently, Kyle Rudolph thinks that free agency is coming for Mr. Darnold. Recently, Dustin Baker also commented on some of Tom Pelissero’s reporting on Minnesota’s QB options.
The Vikings currently have roughly $58 million in cap space. A franchise tag for a QB is going to come in a touch above $41 million, per OTC.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter, as a co-host for Notes from the North, and as the proprietor at The Vikings Gazette, a humble Vikings Substack.
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