The One Sam Darnold Trade That Makes Sense
The Minnesota Vikings have five days to franchise tag-and-trade Sam Darnold if they determine there’s a market available for his services.
The One Sam Darnold Trade That Makes Sense
All signs point to Darnold departing via free agency, where the 27-year-old can command a contract in the ballpark of $40 million per season. But some Vikings faithful hold out hope that the purple team could tag-and-trade Darnold, grabbing a sweet draft pick for their troubles.
While that theory is probably a longshot, there is one deal that might make sense.
The Table-Setter:
Matthew Stafford Traded to Steelers
The Hypothetical Trade:
Steelers Get: Matthew Stafford
Rams Get: 2025 3rd-Rounder (Pick No. 83)
The Pittsburgh Steelers could put their foot down, once and for all, conducting a deal for Stafford and ending the painstaking post-Roethlisberger era involving Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson.
And because Stafford is 37 years old, they might even get away with dealing as little as a mid-rounder for him.
CBS Sports‘ John Breech wrote this week about the Steelers as a Stafford landing spot: “The Steelers have been in quarterback purgatory since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. Right now, the Steelers seem to be considering Justin Fields or Russell Wilson for the 2025 season, but if they want a quarterback who could put them over the top, Stafford would seem to be their best option.”
Here, Stafford ends his career with a team nearly guaranteed to visit the postseason annually, and the Steelers stem the quarterback instability.
The Entree:
Sam Darnold Traded to Rams
The Hypothetical Trade:
Vikings Get: 2025 1st-Rounder (Pick No. 26)
Rams Get: Sam Darnold & 2026 3rd-Rounder
The Vikings, in theory, work with Darnold hand in hand, trading him to a home of his choosing. He could fully continue his career reclamation with Sean McVay in Los Angeles. That is — if Darnold could do it with Kevin O’Connell, he can do it with McVay.
Minnesota adds a 1st-Rounder this April and only donates Darnold, who would’ve otherwise hit free agency, and next year’s 3rd-Rounder to keep the trade balanced.
The Verdict
Everybody Wins
- Pittsburgh brushes aside the Wilson v. Fields debate in favor of Stafford for the low price of a 3rd-Roud pick.
- Los Angeles adds its quarterback for the next 5-8 years, plus two 3rd-Rounders and flashes it back to the “eff them picks” era of Rams football, at least per 1st-Round standards.
- Minnesota embarks on the J.J. McCarthy era with two 1st-Rounders (No. 24, 26) in addition to its compensatory 3rd-Round pick on the way from Kirk Cousins’ 2024 free-agent exit and two 5th-Rounders.
No team gets screwed, and all three teams are set at quarterback in 2025 and beyond.
A Vikings Dream Will Finally Come True
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.
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