Daniel Bartel-Imagn Photographs.
NFL free company is about two and half weeks away, and all indicators level to Sam Darnold, the league’s prime free-agent quarterback prize, testing the open market.
Extra Sam Darnold Proof Factors One Approach for Vikings
Darnold labored for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, notching 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions inside a reclamation yr for the previous third general decide. He helped lead the purple workforce to a 14-3 report when most sportsbooks and pundits anticipated Minnesota to win six or seven video games.
Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
Sadly, Darnold picked the season’s ultimate two video games — an important ones — for his 2024 regression, taking part in horribly when it mattered probably the most in opposition to the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. Accordingly, the Vikings misplaced in Spherical 1 of the postseason, and the 14 wins felt all for nil.
Now, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings are unlikely to oblige Darnold’s massive asking value, although they’d entertain a reunion at an inexpensive fee. “I’m told the Minnesota Vikings are open to doing a deal with Sam Darnold. People I’ve talked to around the league believe that the franchise tag is not the likeliest path that Minnesota would take,” Fowler mentioned on ESPN airwaves this week.
“That’s a high number, around $40 million. Minnesota’s stance seems to be that they’re not going to mortgage the future for Sam Darnold.”
Followers have debated Darnold’s future, centered on three major outcomes:
Letting Darnold hit the open market.
Extending Darnold in Minnesota.
Franchise tagging-and-trading Darnold to a brand new workforce.
“If he’s getting major bank with another team somewhere else, they probably won’t mortgage their future in that regard. But they’re certainly open to having him back. They loved having him,” Fowler continued.
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Minnesota would face constrained roster building if it re-upped with Darnold at $40 million yearly or extra. The franchise simply ended the Kirk Cousins period final offseason when it paid a good-but-not-elite quarterback mucho dinero.
It’s price noting that Minnesota could possibly be utilizing misdirection concerning its Darnold stance — leaking that it would need Darnold again to drive up his hypothetical commerce worth. Sports activities organizations use such maneuvers.
Fowler concluded, “What was made clear to me, though, is J.J. McCarthy is the franchise QB at some point. So whoever steps in this year is essentially a bridge quarterback. Daniel Jones could make some sense. I’m told that he is still on the table as an option. He was in the building last year. He would be a cheaper alternative to Sam Darnold.”
Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs.
Oddsmakers imagine McCarthy, not Darnold, will quarterback the 2025 Vikings. The moneyline is hovering round -350 for McCarthy.
Like most NFL issues, this one boils right down to cash and whether or not Darnold will ponder a “team-friendly” deal in Minnesota. The reply might be not.
Minnesota quarterback Sam Darnold (14) escapes from Inexperienced Bay Packers defensive finish Kingsley Enagbare (55) on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lambeau Subject in Inexperienced Bay, Wis. The Vikings received the sport, 31-29. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.
NFL free company will get underway in 18 days with “legal tampering.” The franchise tag window closes in 12.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple workforce, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN 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 carefully because the NFL.
All statistics supplied by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data supplied by OverTheCap.com.
