In less than a week — perhaps sooner — Minnesota Vikings fans will learn Sam Darnold’s next employer or if he returns to the Twin Cities for a sequel season.
NFL’s Top Insider Predicts the Sam Darnold Outcome
Darnold bedazzled onlookers for 16 games last year, delivering 4,319 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions before capitulating against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams when it mattered the most. Thereafter, folks have spent over seven weeks wondering if he’ll return to the Vikings for a second act.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, one of the NFL’s top insiders, the answer leans toward yes. Schefter, in short, thinks Darnold will be a Viking in 2025.
“And it would not be surprising if the two sides figured out some type of short-term contract that enabled the Vikings to get Sam Darnold, that enabled him to get paid, that enabled them to run it back in the event that J.J. McCarthy is not fully ready this season from his knee injury or struggles in the preseason or experiences whatever type of setback there is,” Schefter said this week with free agency just around the bend.
“So, to me, Sam Darnold to Minnesota makes sense, but now that he’s not going to be tagged, other teams are going to have their say.”
The Vikings had until Tuesday afternoon to apply the franchise tag on Darnold, a maneuver that would’ve likely led to a trade. Yet, due to an allegedly depressed market for Darnold’s services — some Vikings fans were adamant that Darnold would command a sweet draft pick via trade — no franchise tag is in play this year. Darnold will either return to Minnesota or sign elsewhere early next week.
Schefter added, “So, we’ll see if there’s a team out there, like the New York Giants, that makes a compelling enough offer to pry loose Sam Darnold. My guess as we tape this is no. My guess is the one that makes the most sense is Minnesota.”
“It’s not exactly what Sam Darnold would have hoped for or wanted, but it’s still a pretty favorable outcome in my mind. I think the Raiders have some interest, but not a lot. I think the Giants have some interest, but not a lot.”
Back in December, for example, it seemed like an easy choice for Minnesota to re-sign Darnold, and Vikings faithful basically accepted and endorsed it. But the 27-year-old played so terribly with the lights at their brightest that the same crowd believed it would be a no-brainer to pivot to J.J. McCarthy next season.
Not so fast on the McCarthy theories, however. Schefter believes Darnold will return to Minnesota on a reasonably priced deal.
If Schefter has it wrong and Darnold skedaddles, the Vikings are expected to pursue Daniel Jones for “the Sam Darnold role” next week, an experienced QB2 to accompany McCarthy.
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 MIN 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.