For a while there, it appeared that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had done enough to secure a long-term place in Minnesota with coach Kevin O'Connell. Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record this year, throwing for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, plus a quarterback rating of 102.5.
For the first time since he was drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2018, Darnold looked like he had the makings of a top-tier NFL starter. If not elite, then certainly close.
But his last two games in a Vikings uniform were a disaster, first a 31-9 defeat to the shorthanded Lions that cost Minnesota the NFC North crown--and a much better playoff seeding--followed by a 27-9 drubbing at the hands of the Rams to cut short Minnesota's playoff run.
Now, the Vikings must decide what to do with Darnold, who can be a free agent when the league year opens next week. The team is also sitting on rehabbing QB JJ McCarthy, who was the Vikings' first-round pick last year and expected to be the eventual starter. McCarthy tore his ACL in the offseason and did not play at all in 2024.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14)
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Vikings could let Darnold walk in free agency. Or they could sign him to a longer deal. There is a middle path, too--a franchise tag that would essentially keep McCarthy in place for one more year at more than $40 million for 2025.
That's a high outlay, of course, but a low-risk move because of the short term of the deal. The Vikings would need to tag Darnold by 4 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 4.
And it is not happening, according to ESPN insider Dan Graziano.
"Vikings have Sam Darnold, and it would cost them about $40 million to tag him," Graziano said on "Get Up." "As of now, it doesn’t sound like they will, which means Sam Darnold will hit the free-agent market next week. Vikings as we know have JJ McCarthy, who was their first-round draft pick last year, and they feel like he will be ready to go soon. In terms of Darnold, they’d like to have him back.
"But I think there is a number they really wouldn’t go past to bring him back and $40 million is beyond that number. So it looks like, barring something unforeseen here in the next seven hours, Sam Darnold will be a free agent."
