He’s doubling down.
Rick Spielman Has a Spicy Vikings Take
Former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman has once again stated that he would keep quarterback Sam Darnold in 2025 if the decision were up to him.
Spielman generally managed Minnesota, in varying capacities, from 2006 to 2021, so he knows a little bit about the interworkings of the franchise. And with Darnold slated to hit free agency in two months, Spielman has recently made it sound like a no-brainer to retain Darnold while letting rookie passer J.J. McCarthy marinate on the bench.
“If I was Minnesota, why wouldn’t you keep Sam Darnold?” Spielman asked on CBS Sports airwaves last week.
Darnold delivered 4,319 passing yards, 36 total touchdowns, and 12 interceptions this season, his first in Minnesota. He also nibbled at the fringes of MVP consideration throughout the season.
Spielman then referenced the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback development tendencies: “Look at what Green Bay did … with Jordan Love. Look at Green Bay did with Aaron Rodgers behind Brett Favre. Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith. So, if I sit him for two years, why not?”
This isn’t the first time Spielman endorsed a prolonged stay for Darnold in the Twin Cities. “If I was Minnesota, why wouldn’t you keep Sam Darnold? Why not do a potential bridge deal like a Baker Mayfield? Three years, $100 million deal?” Spielman said on the With the First Pick podcast about a month ago.
Minnesota, realistically speaking, may not offer Darnold another bridge deal because Darnold can expect to command $40-$50 million per season via his next contract. The Vikings don’t have that lying around unless they have no plans to sign other free agents during the 2025 offseason. In fact, re-signing Darnold to a contract recognizing his market value would plop Minnesota right back in its Kirk Cousins era of team-building, a period orchestrated by Spielman that resulted in one postseason win.
Spielman mentioned about McCarthy in December, who tore his meniscus in August, canceling his entire rookie season: “He’s a rookie. He’s going to start over from scratch. He didn’t do anything this year. He’s not practicing. He’s sitting in meetings. He’s rehabbing. He hasn’t done one thing since that surgery except rehab-throw the ball on the side, maybe. But he’s not practicing, so you’re starting from square one with him.”
If Minnesota didn’t have McCarthy on an affordable contract waiting to take over, re-upping with Darnold would make a lot of sense. But with McCarthy very much in the team’s plans, Darnold’s probable asking price of $40-$50 million may be too rich.
Left up to Spielman, however, Vikings football might involve Darnold in 2025 and 2026.
Spielman is currently serving as a consultant to the New York Jets’ general manager and head coach search.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.