Surprisingly, the Minnesota Vikings were not widely viewed as a Super Bowl-caliber team this season. This skepticism grew especially pronounced after J.J.
McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury. Regardless, Sam Darnold managed to guide the team to an impressive 14-win regular season.
Although he struggled in the two most critical games of the season, his performance helped him secure a more lucrative contract.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter stated that Darnold is poised to be the most coveted quarterback in free agency this offseason. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter acknowledged that, despite Darnold’s underwhelming play during the final stretch of the season, he will still attract significant interest across the league (via The Purple Persuasion).
Reports indicate that Darnold was considered for a four-year deal worth $40 million annually. Experts now project that he will likely receive an offer more in line with what Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield received, potentially a three-year deal valued at around $100 million.
With over 4,300 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, Darnold displayed the potential of a franchise quarterback for the first time in his career.
Sadly, lingering doubts about his ability to perform in high-stakes games were validated. As a result, the Vikings appear more inclined to establish McCarthy as their future starting quarterback.
Nonetheless, given the current state of the league, at least five teams could and should consider pursuing Darnold’s services.
