Sam Darnold’s Future with the Vikings and What It Means for His Career
The Minnesota Vikings have been tight-lipped about Sam Darnold’s future, but offensive coordinator Wes Phillips made it clear after Darnold’s standout performance in Week 14 that the quarterback has proven himself.
Darnold threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns, leading the Vikings to a dominant 42-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. This performance not only earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors but also pushed him back into the MVP conversation.
At just 27 years old, Darnold has revived his career after spending last season as a backup and is leading the Vikings to a likely playoff berth with an 11-2 record.
While head coach Kevin O’Connell has emphasized the importance of Darnold staying focused on the present and letting his play determine his future, Phillips believes that Darnold no longer has to worry about proving himself. His performance has silenced any doubts about his ability to start in the NFL.
However, the Vikings are aware that Darnold’s upcoming free agency could price them out of signing him to a long-term deal.
Phillips acknowledged that Darnold would be highly sought after in the free-agent market, and the Vikings’ front office is prepared for the possibility of him moving on.
Darnold’s situation is complicated by his one-year, $10 million contract signed in the offseason, which was meant to showcase his talents as he competed for a starting spot in 2024.
The expectation was that J.J. McCarthy would eventually take over as the Vikings’ quarterback of the future. However, Darnold’s unexpected success has made his potential departure more difficult for the team.
With his market value soaring, the Vikings are now considering whether they can afford to keep him.
Some experts, like Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, have suggested the Vikings might consider placing the franchise tag on Darnold to keep him under team control for another year.
However, that could be a double-edged sword. While it would guarantee that Darnold stays with the team, the franchise tag would cost the Vikings over $40 million for the 2025 season, a price that could limit their flexibility.
If Darnold is tagged and then traded, it would be a complex situation for all parties involved, but it remains a possibility that could work in the right circumstances.
Ultimately, re-signing Darnold may not be the best move for the Vikings. His expected contract extension could cost upwards of $30 million annually, which would eat into the team’s cap space.
With several key players set to become free agents, including starting cornerbacks, safety Cam Bynum, and running back Aaron Jones, the Vikings have significant roster holes to fill.
While the team has a solid amount of cap space for next season, committing a large portion of it to Darnold could hinder their ability to address other needs.
Moreover, the Vikings’ strategy of building around a quarterback on a rookie-scale deal—like they did with Justin Jefferson—was designed to leave room for strengthening other areas of the roster.
Re-signing Darnold could undo much of the work the team has done to free up cap space in recent seasons.
In conclusion, the Vikings are at a crossroads with Sam Darnold. While his success on the field has earned him a place among the league’s top quarterbacks, his future with the team may be limited by financial realities.
The Vikings will have to balance their desire to retain Darnold with the need to address other roster concerns in a competitive NFC.
The coming offseason will be crucial in determining whether Darnold remains in Minnesota or if the Vikings are forced to move in a different direction.
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