Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports activities.
The Minnesota Vikings have 25 gamers on faucet to check free company, a course of that kicks off in 26 days with “legal tampering” across the NFL.
CBS Sports activities Claims Vikings Free Agent Is High Canine
The purple workforce has round $60 million to spend on in-house and exterior free brokers, so March must be a bonanza for the franchise.
Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.
And in response to CBS Sports activities, the Vikings simply so occur to make use of the league’s prime free-agent prize: quarterback Sam Darnold.
Pete Prisco sized up the NFL’s High 100 free brokers, and amongst different Vikings gamers, together with Cam Robinson (OT), Camryn Bynum (S), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), and Aaron Jones (RB), Darnold checked in at No. 1.
“Darnold is coming off his best season in the league by far, rejuvenating a career that looked to be derailed. He threw 35 touchdowns and 12 picks last season in leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record. But Darnold didn’t play well in the season finale, losing to the Lions, and also didn’t play well in the playoff loss to the Rams,” Prisco wrote.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Pictures.
The veteran passer performed splendidly for Minnesota by way of 16 video games however collapsed within the ultimate two video games, which, inconveniently, have been an important.
“The Vikings probably won’t bring him back after drafting J.J. McCarthy in the first round last year, only to see him suffer a knee injury in training camp. The Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans could be spots for Darnold, who will likely command a deal that pays an average of close to $40 million per season. Would I pay that? I do think it’s risky, but if you don’t have a quarterback, you better get one,” Prisco added.
The Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants have additionally been listed as attainable Darnold suitors.
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Pictures.
Prisco concluded, “Sam Darnold resurrected his career with the Vikings, putting up big numbers and leading them to the playoffs. But he fizzled in his final two games, including a playoff loss, and that has some personnel people concerned. Even so, in a quarterback-needy league, he will get action if the Vikings don’t keep him off the market. I’d look for a deal near $40 million per season.”
In the meantime, the Vikings appear able to decide to J.J. McCarthy this offseason. “We drafted him 10th overall for a reason,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell informed CBS Sports activities on Saturday about McCarthy, the person on deck to steer the franchise.
Brad Rempel-Imagn Pictures.
O’Connell added, “I believe Sam [Darnold] has played himself into being kind of the marquee free-agent quarterback available. I do believe that his teammates and coaches, our front office, and myself would love to have Sam back in Minnesota. But at the same time we do feel very confident in J.J. McCarthy. He’s healthy.”
And if O’Connell is able to hand McCarthy the keys, Darnold is evidently the league’s most coveted free agent.
Minnesota would seemingly re-sign Daniel Jones for QB2 obligation if Darnold skedaddled in March.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple workforce, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info supplied by OverTheCap.com.
