Vikings Have a “Misvalued” Free Agent

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos

Sam Darnold produced a season worthy of backdoor MVP consideration in 2024, recording 4,319 passing yards, 36 whole touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Minnesota Vikings have been straight cruising with Darnold in cost, boasting a 14-2 file by 16 video games.

Vikings Have a “Misvalued” Free Agent

He and his staff later collapsed, dropping within the Wildcard Spherical to the Los Angeles Rams. Most Vikings followers determined J.J. McCarthy could be a wiser answer for the longer term, hoping to implement a quarterback who won’t faceplant when it mattered probably the most.

Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos,

So, in all probability, Darnold will take a look at free company in two weeks, and in accordance with NFL.com, his present contractual prognosis may very well be “misvalued.” Kevin Patra detailed 10 NFL free brokers with the misvalued label, and Darnold kicked off his record.

“After shining under Kevin O’Connell, Darnold has earned the right to be given a long-term contract. How the season ended would scare me from committing big bucks to the former first-round pick. Yet, as the top signal-caller bound for free agency (unless he is franchise-tagged), that’s probably where his market is going,” Patra defined.

“Darnold steadied the Vikings and showed an ability to win close games, but he also got away with some misses, credited with 25 turnover-worthy plays by Pro Football Focus, tied for most in the NFL (including playoffs). Would he continue to thrive outside of KOC’s cushy offense and without the league’s highest-paid receiver on the roster?”

Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos

Whether or not Patra is true or fallacious about Darnold’s misconstrued worth, a handful of groups will nibble at his free company if he certainly hits the open market. The Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Jets paved the way in Darnold’s rumor mill. The Raiders might be categorized because the frontrunner to fetch his providers.

Patra concluded, “If I were a club with offensive line questions, I’d be wary of shelling out $40 million annually for Darnold, who can get scattershot under pressure. Baker Mayfield is making $33 million per year on his three-year pact with the Bucs. Personally, I’d rather have Mayfield straight up, let alone when the potential price difference is factored in.”

Mike Dinovo-Imagn Photos

The misvalued principle checks out to an extent. Mayfield could also be extra dependable than Darnold, particularly after Darnold’s two-game debacle in 2024. The counterpoint: the NFL wage cap climbed even increased this offseason, that means $40 million may actually be the going fee for a quarterback who threw 35 touchdowns.

Extra realistically, Darnold’s subsequent deal will in all probability verify in across the center — between Mayfield’s $33 million and the hotspot $40 million prediction normally related to Darnold’s worth.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports activities.

Maybe the Raiders will hand Darnold $105 million over three years.

NFL free company will get underway in two weeks with “legal tampering.”

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 staff, 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 carefully because the NFL. 

All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data offered by OverTheCap.com.