Questions Answered: Preserving Sam Darnold, Vikings’ 2025 Draft Want, Packers Sport in Week 17

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Questions Answered: Preserving Sam Darnold, Vikings’ 2025 Draft Want, Packers Sport in Week 17

Additionally, please observe: These are opinion-based responses. Some solutions can be incorrect now and again. However we’ll attempt to maintain that to a minimal.

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Q: The place do you fall within the “keep Sam Darnold” debate?

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Reply: On the facet that endorses J.J. McCarthy for the beginning quarterback in 2025.

Darnold has performed splendidly, and that’s paradoxically good and unhealthy. He might propel Minnesota to a deep playoff run, and a few months after that, he can land a fats contract someplace within the NFL.

The issue with the Vikings handing Darnold a contract north of $40 million per season? We’ve been right here earlier than. The staff simply ended the Kirk Cousins period. The frequent criticism amid these six seasons was paying a good-but-not-great quarterback top-tier cash, with few funds to outfit the roster round him.

Re-signing Darnold for 3 years and $120 million, for instance, would instantly whisk the Vikings again to the Cousins period per team-building. Common supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted McCarthy to keep away from that pickle.

Some have even steered that Minnesota ought to commerce McCarthy and roll with Darnold. The Ringer‘s Invoice Simmons was the newest instance. “Darnold … really has energy with Jefferson and Addison. He has almost 3,300 yards – Darnold – 28 touchdowns, and 10 picks, and if they are in round one of the playoffs, he’ll probably be like a four-plus-point favorite. He’s on a one-year deal. They have J.J. McCarthy, I’d be really hesitant not to bring Darnold back,” Simmons stated on his podcast Monday.

Then, he delivered the kicker: “Today was the first day where I was like, ‘Wow, they might have actually found their QB, and maybe they should think about trading J.J. McCarthy.’”

Sheer lunacy.

Make McCarthy the QB1, it doesn’t matter what. He has the juice.

Q: What place ought to the Vikings draft in Spherical 1 of the draft?

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Reply: Cornerback.

The one CBs connected to the 2025 funds proper now are Mekhi Blackmon, Dwight McGlothern, and NaJee Thompson.

Even when Minnesota re-upped with Byron Murphy — it most likely will — the franchise wants one other youthful cornerback within the pipeline. It’s uncommon that the Vikings might signal Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin because the beginning options and have an 11-2 file for his or her troubles.

We are saying cornerback, however we wouldn’t be mad about an affect defensive sort out.

Q: Will the Packers at Vikings sport be flexed?

Kirby Lee-Imagn Pictures.

Reply: We’re listening to that it is going to be flexed from the midday CST time slot to three:15 pm CST.

That hasn’t been confirmed, however in case you’re going to that sport, put together for the late afternoon time window.

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 visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, 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 offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.