After a profession 12 months on a one-year, prove-it contract, there was a little bit of an expectation that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had achieved a formidable bit of labor to enhance his contract outlook for 2025. The way in which the 2025 offseason has been creating, although, it’s wanting prefer it might be a bit of a challenge for Darnold to make to most of his upward momentum, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
It virtually appeared just like the NFL had given up on Darnold as a starter. After exhibiting promise successful seven of 13 begins in a sophomore marketing campaign for the Jets, any hopes had been dashed when he went 2-10 the subsequent 12 months. The Panthers gave New York some respectable worth in a commerce simply to see Darnold go 4-7 in his first 12 months with the workforce and be relegated to the bench the next season.
As a free agent in 2023, Darnold signed with the 49ers having to win the backup quarterback job behind Brock Purdy over Trey Lance. After successful the backup job, he made one begin in 10 appearances, getting the bottom taking part in time of his profession.
Regardless of having simply spent a 12 months as a backup, Darnold signed a one-year, $10M cope with the Vikings, who had been transferring on from long-time passer Kirk Cousins and drafting the Faculty Soccer Nationwide Championship-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan. Signing Darnold gave them a backup choice in case McCarthy was not able to take the reins as a rookie. His in depth expertise as a starter made him a helpful choice to compete for the beginning job with the 21-year-old who may function a powerful backup ought to the rookie win the job.
That competitors was lower quick, although, when McCarthy suffered a meniscus damage that required a full restore surgical procedure, forcing him to overlook his complete rookie season. Darnold stepped into the beginning position and led the Vikings to competitors for the No. 1 total seed within the NFC with a 14-3 file whereas recording profession highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) whereas throwing solely 12 picks. Darnold and the Vikings turned the shock of the season, and the expectation was that his worth as a free agent would skyrocket because of this.
Understandably, it was potential commerce goal Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles who drew essentially the most consideration from groups wanting to amass a veteran quarterback. Now that he’s remaining with the Rams, Darnold has grow to be the brand new high choice. The Raiders are a workforce that had been making an attempt laborious for Stafford, however multiple sources at The Athletic declare that they had been solely prepared to shell out critical money for Stafford.
After the Raiders, it’s laborious to think about anybody desirous to spend critical cash on the place. The Vikings have explored tagging choices, however they’re ready at hand the workforce over to McCarthy and gained’t probably be prepared to dedicate a lot wage to Darnold to return. The Browns are already caught paying $92M over the subsequent two years to proceed watching Deshaun Watson not play. The Saints are sticking with Derek Carr. The Jets and Giants are theoretically choices, however per Volin, it doesn’t appear to be Darnold is fascinated about reuniting with New York and MetLife.
Tennessee looks as if the most effective choices to discover his worth. The Titans appear to have curiosity in using the Will Levis practice for a bit longer, and Darnold could be an expensive bridge choice. The Titans may additionally use their No. 1 total draft choose on a quarterback and, as soon as once more, use Darnold as a competitor for his or her rookie. Or, if pairing Darnold with Levis satisfies their wants, they may commerce out of the highest spot, buying further draft capital whereas probably nonetheless having the ability to choose a gifted first-rounder.
The best choice may be to return to Minnesota, although. The Vikings have already made it recognized they’re not prepared to decide to a big-money, long-term deal, however he is aware of he matches nicely within the constructing and stays as a beginning choice if McCarthy struggles early. It’s disappointing that Darnold’s massive 12 months might not get rewarded in the way in which many anticipated, however he nonetheless has some attention-grabbing choices to take advantage of his state of affairs.
