Super Bowl LIX has come and gone, and it's time for NFL teams to start building towards the 2025 season. In Free Agency Primer, we'll cover some of the best players who could be on the move once the legal tampering window opens on March 10th.
Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold
During a busy 2024 offseason that included parting ways with longtime starter Kirk Cousins and nabbing Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $4.5 million deal to compete for a starting opportunity.
After McCarthy suffered a knee injury that would ultimately end his season, Darnold emerged as the clear starter heading into Week 1. He contributed a breakout year, spurring the Vikings to a 14-3 record while passing for 4319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Unfortunately, Darnold's last two games likely left a sour taste in the Vikings' mouths. Darnold struggled in an all-important regular season finale against the Detroit Lions that could have secured the Vikings' homefield advantage, netting a hapless 3.30 passing yards per dropback in a 31-9 loss. Darnold was similarly over his head in the Vikings' Wildcard Round matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, absorbing nine sacks while netting 3.33 passing yards per dropback in a 27-9 defeat.
Who should be interested?
The Vikings have been preparing for the eventuality of losing Darnold ever since they were eliminated from the playoffs. Notably, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said prior to the Super Bowl that Darnold had "earned the right to be a free agent."
If the Vikings wanted to hold onto Darnold, they could theoretically place the franchise tag on him, but that would cost them nearly $43 million on a one-year deal. It appears they've decided he isn't worth it. They've likely concluded that McCarthy offers a higher upside.
Darnold is a difficult evaluation for NFL teams. Although it may seem unfair to ignore his strong regular season and fixate on his ugly last two games, he has put a lot more bad play than good play on the field over his career; after being taken third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, he lost 35 of his first 56 starts while averaging 182.8 passing yards per game.
Teams should be cautious not to overextend themselves for Darnold. It's unlikely his next offense will be able to surround him with talent to the degree the Vikings did, so he should probably only be considered a fringe starter or a bridge quarterback until he proves 2024 was no fluke. A deal similar to the three-year, $100 million contract Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be fair compensation from a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, or even the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Photo Credit: © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
