The Latest Sam Darnold Prediction …
In about two weeks — perhaps before if a trade materializes — Minnesota Vikings fans will learn Sam Darnold’s offseason fate.
The Latest Sam Darnold Prediction …
Darnold threw for 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and 4,319 passing yards before vanishing in the season’s final two games in 2024. The man even flirted with fringe MVP consideration. Most Vikings loyalists, though, decided that J.J. McCarthy represented a wiser option in 2025 because he may not melt in the playoffs as Darnold did versus the Los Angeles Rams.
And while some sections of NFL-themed media think Darnold could return to Minnesota in 2025, most have decided that the 27-year-old will venture elsewhere via free agency. One team keeps popping up as Darnold’s next employer: the Las Vegas Raiders.
CBS Sports‘ Cody Benjamin was the latest to predict a Darnold-Raiders relationship, claiming Las Vegas would sign the veteran quarterback for three years and $114 million once free agency kicks off.
Benjamin wrote, “The former No. 3 overall pick has certainly restored his image since a tumultuous five-year start with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, parlaying a year of tutelage with the San Francisco 49ers into a full-blown breakout with the Vikings.”
“His poised and aggressive 35-touchdown showcase under Kevin O’Connell ultimately ended with a whimper, however, as he folded under pressure in Minnesota’s last — and most important — two games.”
The NFL’s franchise tag window opened last week, and Minnesota is on a ticking clock to use that tool on Darnold if it sees fit. The Vikings could slap the $41 million tag on Darnold and utilize him as QB1 in 2025 or trade him to the highest bidder.
In all likelihood, however, Darnold will walk to open free agency while Minnesota receives a 2026 compensatory draft pick for his exit.
“The Vikings like Darnold and his live arm, but they like their 2024 first-round investment, J.J. McCarthy, just as much. And the bargain-bin route worked out just fine for them after they let Kirk Cousins walk. Darnold, meanwhile, might prefer to cash in for a top gig while he can,” Benjamin added and predicted the Raiders as Darnold’s next team.
Benjamin also noted the New York Giants, New York Jets, and, of course, the Vikings as possible landing spots.
If Darnold leaves, Minnesota is expected to explore Daniel Jones as a quarterback insurance policy.
Jot it down — NFL pundits believe Darnold will be a Raider. It’s like a worst-kept secret.
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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