Pro Football Focus recently announced its most improved player from each team during the 2024 NFL season. Most selections were young players who made jumps during their rookie contracts. However, this wasn’t the case for the Minnesota Vikings, whose selection was not only a veteran but was also the league’s most-improved player.
According to the article, Sam Darnold was the Vikings’ most-improved player in 2024. He went from a potential placeholder at quarterback to one of the league’s five finalists for the AP Comeback Player Of the Year. Only four quarterbacks threw for more touchdowns than Darnold’s 35.
PFF said the following about Darnold’s season:
Darnold completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while registering the third-most big-time throws in the NFL and earning a career-high 82.7 grade. The Vikings’ offense was buoyed by Darnold’s ability to stand in the pocket and let throws rip to his talented receivers, and Darnold was aided by one of the best play-callers in the business. The totality of it all is Darnold has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in 2024, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record, and he’s going to get paid in the offseason.
The article also began with three random nuggets, including Darnold being the most-improved player across the league by their metrics. This is a testament to Kevin O’Connell and his staff’s ability to elevate the play of a quarterback who bounced around the league for six seasons. What can they do with J.J. McCarthy next year when they can groom him from Day 1?
It remains to be seen where Darnold will play next year. But his 2024 season will help him get a starting job with a quarterback-needy team while getting his first big contract. And that wouldn’t have been possible without his massive improvement this year.