Heading into the NFL’s offseason, it’s generally good practice for teams to try and keep their best players from hitting the open market. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. Whether that’s because of players retiring, relationships breaking down between a player and the organization, or teams wanting to go a different direction despite a player’s strong play.
That third scenario is the one the Minnesota Vikings find themselves in when it comes to their highest-ranking potential free agent according to PFF, quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold revitalized his career in 2024 with the Vikings, turning in the best statistical season of his career in his first season in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Darnold set new career highs in yards, touchdowns, and had an incredible run of games with a quarterback rating over 100. For all that, Darnold earned himself an 80.7 grade from PFF. He also likely earned himself a pretty good payday on the open market — just not likely from the team with which he had so much success.
The Vikings are clearly of the mind that last year’s first-round draft pick, former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, is the future of the franchise, and they would like that future to start sooner rather than later. The plan was for McCarthy to take the reigns at some point last season, but a pre-season injury threw a wrench into those plans.
Now, ostensibly healthy, it seems like the Vikings are “all systems go” with the young quarterback, leaving Darnold to hit free agency once again. This time, however, there should be a more robust market for the journeyman quarterback after leading the Vikings to a surprise playoff appearance.
The final game of the regular season, and his abysmal playoff performance against the Rams, may hurt Darnold’s ceiling as far as offers go, but someone is likely going to be willing to take a chance at continuing his reclamation. It just won’t (likely) be Minnesota again.