Joe Nicholson-Imagn Pictures.
After having Kirk Cousins underneath middle for the previous six seasons because the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, each side moved on after final season.
What Ought to the Vikings Do with Sam Darnold?
They signed journeyman Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract and drafted Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the tenth total choose. Minnesota has been an enormous shock all season, going 14-2, and Darnold’s play has been an enormous cause for that.
Earlier than this season, the previous third-overall choose performed for the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers.
In his 66 profession video games (56 begins), he threw 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. This season, in all 16 begins, he has thrown 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. It has actually been a a lot totally different story this yr, and he seems far more like a participant who was drafted as excessive as he was.
With how nicely he has performed, bringing him again appears like an easy determination, proper?
Not so quick.
Along with his play this yr, Darnold will definitely not be low-cost once more, and Minnesota will finally must know what they’ve in McCarthy. So the query stays: What ought to they do with Darnold?
Matt Krohn-Imagn Pictures.
Quite a bit will depend upon how Minnesota finishes. In the event that they win the Tremendous Bowl, they need to reward him and convey him again. Why not? This franchise has by no means received a Tremendous Bowl earlier than, and in the event that they do, Darnold shall be one of many essential causes for that. It will be an enormous shock in the event that they let him go.
If they don’t win the Tremendous Bowl, they need to thank him for his providers in 2024 and hand the sport over to McCarthy. Or perhaps they will re-sign Daniel Jones and have him battle McCarthy. Jones shall be low-cost.
Sure, that may be a threat, on condition that we have no idea whether or not McCarthy will pan out. One factor is for sure, although: McCarthy will vastly profit from having Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and a very good offensive-minded coach in Kevin O’Connell. Darnold actually has benefited from all these sources. Perhaps McCarthy is not going to profit as a lot, however they need to nonetheless profit. It is extremely exhausting to think about he would seem like Tarvaris Jackson or Christian Ponder with all that help round him.
Right here is the most important issue on this: McCarthy is on a rookie contract, making it simpler for Minnesota to re-sign gamers equivalent to Byron Murphy Jr., Camryn Bynum, and Aaron Jones and add extra to the roster. Minnesota is anticipated to have practically $80 million in cap area. They may additionally get a compensation choose for dropping Darnold.
Darnold might simply price not less than $40 million a yr with the season he has had. Once more, if Minnesota wins the Tremendous Bowl, they need to reward and re-sign him. Why inform him to take a hike when he did one thing no quarterback in workforce historical past has ever achieved? Making it to the massive sport could be very spectacular and will give Darnold extra reward, however getting over the hump in 2025 and past shall be more durable with him making that a lot.
Minnesota reportedly desires him again. For a way a lot and the way lengthy? That is still to be seen.
If Minnesota is one and achieved within the playoffs, it would make the choice a lot simpler for them to maneuver on from him. In the event that they attain the NFC Championship Sport on the naked minimal, it is going to be exhausting for them to maneuver on.
With Cousins making huge cash, it didn’t make it not possible for Minnesota so as to add extra to the roster, nevertheless it undoubtedly made it more durable. Having a less expensive quarterback this yr made it simpler for them to usher in Jones, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Blake Cashman. All have performed main roles on this workforce having a shot for the primary seed within the NFC.
Daniel Bartel-Imagn Pictures.
Even when this certainly does turn into Darnold’s solely season in purple, his play will definitely not be forgotten. It’s by no means simple to say goodbye to gamers who carry out nicely, however this sport can be a enterprise. How the season finale towards the Detroit Lions goes will very doubtless decide his destiny with the workforce subsequent yr. In the event that they win and clinch the primary seed, it would enhance Minnesota’s possibilities of advancing to the Tremendous Bowl, which, after all, would enhance his possibilities of staying put.
Merely put. In the event that they win the Tremendous Bowl, hold him for 2025 and past. If not, it’s time to see what the Michigan child can do.
