Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold joins Vikings Leisure Community’s Gabe Henderson and discusses being coached now by his former New York Jets teammate, Josh McCown, being a giant UFC fan, his journey by way of the NFL and extra. Darnold grew to become a Vikings in March 2024 after Kirk Cousins left for the Atlanta Falcons.
Sam Darnold just isn’t going to play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025.
No less than he’s not going to be on a gaudy contract.
After a powerful yr as a bridge quarterback beneath the tutelage of Kevin O’Connell, he has earned a payday that escaped him throughout stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
Cease Doing the Sam Darnold Factor.
Anticipating the Minnesota Vikings to pay for that’s ludicrous.
Final offseason, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had the chance to signal Kirk Cousins, a longtime veteran quarterback conversant in the group, and had gained large video games. Cousins has additionally by no means missed a possibility to capitalize on a payday, and the Vikings intelligently let the Atlanta Falcons take that fall.
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Photographs.
This offseason, an analogous scenario presents itself. Darnold is in line for a payday. He’s conversant in the group, and whereas the tenure is shorter, his greatest yr got here beneath the management of O’Connell. Now in line for a pleasant fats verify, pondering Minnesota will reverse course is silly.
The Vikings reset their wage cap scenario by drafting J.J. McCarthy within the first spherical of the 2024 NFL Draft. He suffered a major knee damage, however an ACL tear is hardly a dying sentence. The identical religion that Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell had within the Michigan product once they drafted him ought to stay.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
By going with McCarthy and a few kind of veteran backup (howdy, Daniel Jones), the Vikings have ample area to handle different roster points. This regime has not been ready to try this whereas using Cousins. This determination allowed them the flexibleness to pitch Stephon Gilmore late this season and can give them further ammunition throughout free company in a yr when picks are at a premium.
There isn’t a purpose why Darnold shouldn’t be on the lookout for the bag. On the open market, even after a few down video games to complete the slate, he’ll discover a multi-year deal price nicely over $100 million. Wanting the Vikings franchise tagging him in an try to commerce him for draft belongings, it makes lower than zero sense for Minnesota to spend large on the commodity they created.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
If O’Connell can create this end result for a participant like Darnold, then the ceiling for a expertise like McCarthy solely grows. The Vikings drafted their quarterback of the long run a yr in the past. They are going to pay him peanuts whereas he develops into the sign caller they envisioned him being.
Sam Darnold can and needs to be paid this offseason. Nonetheless, Minnesota won’t foot the invoice.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that’s targeted on all issues Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s energetic on Twitter and writes day by day for Minnesota Sports activities Fan. As a former faculty athlete and avid sports activities fan, protecting our professional groups with a ardour has all the time appeared like such a pure outlet.
