This 12 months appears a bit gentle on franchise tag candidates, however the Vikings do have probably the most vital determination to make earlier than the March 4 tag deadline.
Sam Darnold has come up as a player the team will consider tagging, regardless of his robust end to his debut Minnesota season, and J.J. McCarthy‘s restoration timeline stands to issue into the Vikings’ determination. McCarthy has undergone two surgeries after suffering a meniscus tear within the preseason. Whereas loads of time stays between now and Week 1, final 12 months’s No. 10 total decide appears to have a methods to go in his restoration.
McCarthy nonetheless has “vital” work to do by way of rebuilding his physique after the harm, according to the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora, whose current conversations with plenty of NFL execs level to the NFC North workforce defending itself earlier than the tag deadline. The Vikings shouldn’t be anticipated to let Darnold hit free company, La Canfora notes. This is able to take the highest QB possibility off the market, however given the Vikes’ state of affairs, it might be comprehensible in the event that they sought high-priced insurance coverage.
The Vikings have been in talks with Darnold, who can be eligible to talk with different groups starting March 10 when the authorized tampering interval begins. Darnold’s finest monetary play would in all probability be hitting the market and signing with a starter-needy workforce, one that may be able to authorize a number of assured years on a contract that may be anticipated to prime $30M every year. The Baker Mayfield value vary got here up for Darnold not too long ago; Darnold’s ex-Panthers teammate re-signed with the Buccaneers for 3 years and $100M simply earlier than free company final 12 months.
Whereas Minnesota may take this route in an effort to keep away from a $40M-plus cap maintain clogging its payroll resulting from a franchise tag, McCarthy’s presence represents a reasonably notable distinction between this example and the one Tampa Bay navigated in 2024. Darnold additionally may conceivably be leery of re-signing on a multiyear deal resulting from McCarthy’s presence.
McCarthy’s rookie contract can run by 2028 by way of the fifth-year possibility, and whereas a report after Week 17 — a crucial juncture on the Darnold Minnesota timeline, resulting from his struggles within the two video games that adopted — indicated teams would call the Vikes on McCarthy. No indications have emerged suggesting the Vikings would entertain buying and selling a participant round whom they centered their 2024 offseason.
If McCarthy does have to take main steps ahead by way of rehab and acclimating to the NFL, the Vikings protecting Darnold — after a breakthrough season that produced a 14-3 document, an original-ballot Professional Bowl nod and a Kevin O’Connell Coach of the Yr honor — would make sense no matter value. Minnesota is projected to hold greater than $58M in cap house.
Whereas a Darnold tag would throw a wrench into the Vikings’ means to retain free brokers Byron Murphy, Camryn Bynum and Aaron Jones, prioritizing a quarterback would stand to supersede retaining starters elsewhere.
Although, the Vikings are coming off a season wherein they noticed a $10M QB make a surprising leap. A second Darnold 12 months additionally cuts into Minnesota’s means to construct round McCarthy’s rookie contract.
O’Connell additionally elevated Kirk Cousins‘ play, and the workforce additionally labored with Daniel Jones for practically two months to shut the season. Jones can be a cheaper possibility, within the occasion the Vikings determine a Darnold franchise tag can be too expensive.
