What QB is in your stocking for 2025?
This season has been incredible. I still like 1998 better but that is because of Randy Moss. Still, what this team is doing with Sam Darnold leading them was impossible to predict. But here we are and it is setting up all kinds of really great debates about what the Vikings should do at the QB position in 2025.
If they go with JJ McCarthy he is going to have a very high bar to clear. He will struggle like all rookies which will likely make average fans upset since the team already had Darnold.
If they keep Darnold then it will utilize a sizable amount of cap space which may or may not be a detriment.
I would be very surprised but I would not be disappointed if Kwesi was able to trade JJ McCarty for a top 10 pick. I mean, why not? He had a knee injury that he will recover from fully. If he was in this draft would he go #1? He has to be top 3 at least. I would not do it but it is interesting to consider especially if a team like the Titans (for example) offers the #6 pick. I wont put money on it but I do like to have fun.
They could tag Darnold but I would have to believe they have a trade in place before doing that because that ties up more cap space than necessary. But you do not want to lose him for nothing.
I am predicting he will voluntarily want and ask to come back and will accept a reasonable Baker Mayfield type deal of at least two years. A third year could be included but it would not be guaranteed so it may end up as dead money. I kind of like this scenario the best because it gives JJ even more time to learn to read NFL defenses and get acclimated to the week in and week out grind of an NFL season. Sort of like Jordan Love had to do.
There are plenty of naysayers that think he is a one year wonder but I do not think so. He is only getting better and there is no reason to believe he cannot continue to grow the chemistry with Jetta and Addison. It is not like he is going to be 36 years old.
The Vikings need to remember the idiom “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” when deciding on what to do with Darnold.
Sam Darnold Scouting Reports
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/sam-darnold/32004441-5246-6141-9e5c-6e7d32a03e33
Overview
At the end of the day, Darnold has NFL size, arm strength, accuracy, pocket mobility, poise and field reading capability. His windup is an eyesore for sure, but he has the velocity to mitigate the additional release time. While Darnold has the mental toughness and talent to start tomorrow, early sideline seasoning could help him better process coverages in an attempt to eliminate future interceptions. Darnold has the tools to thrive in any system and doesn’t have to have perfect protection to succeed. His floor is solid starter, but he has the ceiling to be one of the top tier quarterbacks in the game as he gains more experience.
Strengths
Has desired NFL size. Trusts his pocket and keeps eyes down the field. Looks off safeties. Takes what defense is offering and won’t overcomplicate it. Scans full field and eyes don’t get bogged down on a single target. Gets through progressions like a pro. Throws with desired anticipation and timing. Isolates deep ball opportunities pre-snap. There isn’t a throw he fears. Impressive feel for spatial relationship between target and defender. Trusts his arm and placement. Naturally accurate with tight spirals. Has arm talent to uncork it quickly. Rifles it to hitches and swing passes giving them time to operate. Has velocity, timing and accuracy to own the deep out. Tough in and out of the pocket. Feels edge pressure and climbs away from sharks circling the rush arc. Shakes off sack attempts and throws with accuracy and pace when on the move. Completion percentage unaffected by blitz. Sudden processor when faced with free-running blitzers. Can pump and re-calibrate. Tough runner who can move the sticks with his legs. Doesn’t get shaken by in-game mistakes. Shows quality leadership and poise.
Weaknesses
Elongated release is impossible to miss. Ball drops to his waist with forearm pointed towards the ground, pre-delivery. Windup gives defenders early clue to break on the throw. Muscle memory may not allow for release correction. Turnover total is alarming. Finished 2017 with 13 interceptions and nine lost fumbles. Has 20 interceptions over last 20 games. Decision-making and field vision were inconsistent this year. Has a tendency to rush throws once internal clock winds down. Too much mustard on some short throws. Muscles too many throws rather than driving with lower half. Too willing to throw from uneven platform. Intermediate accuracy fell from 2016. Can throw with better placement and lead his targets. Deep ball touch needs work. Took sacks when incompletions were available. Rarely slides in the open field which has to change.
Sources Tell Us
“I think he caught some backlash this year because of the pre-season hype and the interceptions. He’s still the most complete quarterback in this draft with the best makeup to be a good pro.” — AFC Executive
Sam Darnold NFL Draft 2018: Scouting Report for New York Jets’ Pick
POSITIVES
—Darnold’s toughness and football IQ are what sell scouts on his ability and potential.
—Operated in an offense that asked him to make full-field reads from the pocket and often from a snap under center. Has excellent field vision and a quick processor.
—His touch accuracy on short and intermediate routes stands out as a strength, and he routinely shows good anticipation and puts the ball ahead of the receiver.
—He has the personality to thrive in any environment, and coaches praise his work ethic and leadership.
NEGATIVES
—At times, Darnold tries to do too much and forces passes into windows that aren’t there. In the pocket, he could improve his feel for defenders and better use his athleticism to make plays.
GRADE: 7.20 (Round 1)
PRO COMPARISON: Tony Romo (ouch?)
OVERALL
As the talent at USC took a dip in 2017, Darnold’s turnovers rose, but he never let it affect his demeanor. He’s poised, smart, tough and incredibly coachable. Darnold projects as a starter in his second season and has a high NFL ceiling given his mental and physical skills.
2018 NFL Draft Scouting Reports: Sam Darnold is the Best QB in the Class
While Darnold chose not to throw at the combine it certainly didn’t hurt his draft stock. He had the best pro day of the top quarterbacks and he did it in the pouring rain. Scouts and teams flocked to see the former Trojan back at his old stomping grounds and Darnold put on a show. He was accurate, quick, and his deep ball was oh so pretty.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Asked & Answered, Week 16: It’s time for Vikings fans to believe
ANSWERED: Minnesota might just do this thing, at last
The ghosts of the past hang heavy over the heads of Vikings fans. Losses in four of the first 11 Super Bowls, Morten Andersen kicking the 15-1 Vikings out of the playoffs in 1998, the Minneapolis Miracle leading to Philly Frustration in 2018 … so many chances for championship glory, so many failures, over and over. So you can understand why the Skol faithful might not be 100 percent ready to give themselves over to this team.
That said … the rest of us can start. Yes, Sam Darnold has never started a playoff game. But he’s got the best possible armor around him in the Vikings’ offensive gameplan and defensive intensity, and he’s also got a Hulk of his own in Justin Jefferson. Minnesota survived what could have been a look-ahead loss to Seattle Sunday, in large part because Jefferson played a starring role with 144 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
The Vikings close with divisional games against the Packers and Lions and a very real chance to claim the NFC North crown. Up until a few weeks ago, we would have said “vulture” or “steal” the divisional title, but the Vikings have proven themselves every bit the equal of their rivals. Now it’s down to who wins, straight up. If you’re a Vikings fan, it’s OK to hope.
Vikings have set themselves up to be a top free agent destination in 2025
The Vikings are in the midst of a magical season, improving to 13-2 on Sunday with their eighth consecutive win. They appear to have a genuine Super Bowl ceiling this year. But what’s even more encouraging is that their championship window seems to only be opening. With this coaching staff and organizational infrastructure in place, and with the NFL’s sixth-most cap space in the upcoming offseason, the Vikings have set themselves up to be a marquee free agent destination this spring — and perhaps for several years to come.
If you were a big-time free agent this spring, why wouldn’t you want to be part of what the Vikings have going on? It’s worked out extremely well for basically every free agent who came on board this year, from Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones to Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, and so many others. The team’s culture, with O’Connell at the helm, is a real winning edge. Superstar players like Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw are under contract for the long haul. Having won 13 games in two of the last three years — and in much more sustainable fashion this year than in 2022 — the Vikings’ Super Bowl window is very much open.
Of course, there’s a looming decision to be made this spring at the quarterback position. The plan has always seemed to be to let Darnold walk this offseason and turn things over to J.J. McCarthy, given the benefits of building around his rookie contract, but Darnold’s incredible play has complicated things a bit. There’s a world where he’s brought back and the Vikings still have some room to add. There’s also a world where someone else gives him a big contract and Adofo-Mensah has all kinds of money to spend on roster upgrades in March.
The Vikings could use a guard like the Chiefs’ Trey Smith. They could use a cornerback like D.J. Reed or Charvarius Ward. They could use a defensive tackle. And if those players have been paying attention to the on-field success and off-field vibes in Minnesota this year, it’s hard to imagine many better landing spots across the league.
Eagles Predicted To Lose $5 Million Breakout Star To Vikings
After the playoffs end, though, some things could change. The Eagles will have some solid players hitting free agency and may not be able to keep everyone around. One player who will be a free agent is 25-year-old defensive tackle Milton Williams.
He has had a great season so far and has a career-best five sacks to go along with 20 tackles and eight tackles for loss. It would be nice if the Eagles could bring him back, but there surely will be competition.
“2025 Free Agency: DL Milton Williams, Philadelphia Eagles,” Bleacher Report said. “Minnesota’s interior pass rush could use a boost, and that will only intensify when Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bullard and Jihad Ward hit the open market this offseason.
“Williams could help solve that problem since he’s having an impressive campaign as a pass-rusher with a career-high five sacks heading into this weekend. Also, Pro Football Focus credited the 25-year-old with 33 total pressures (tied for 22nd among interior defenders) and an elite 90.3 grade as a rusher (second).”
Cowboys predicted to acquire $54 million Vikings star to address ‘biggest weakness’
On Monday, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report predicted that the Cowboys would sign Cam Robinson, the Minnesota Vikings’ current starting left tackle, to take over the role in Dallas on a short-term basis.
“Tyler Guyton struggled this season, especially in pass protection. While the rookie could turn it around in year two, Dallas should consider bringing in a veteran for some competition at left tackle,” Holder said.
“Robinson has a long track record of being a good blindside protector in the NFL. Adding him in free agency on a short-term deal would give the offense another starting option and allow Guyton another year to develop.”
NFL Agent: Sam Darnold Will Get Vikings Contract ‘Unless He Bombs in the Playoffs’
Sam Darnold’s breakout regular season may not be enough to earn him an extension from the Minnesota Vikings without playoff success, according to a text an NFL player agent sent The Athletic’s Mike Sando.
“Sam Darnold will be a Viking next year unless he bombs in the playoffs,” the agent wrote, according to Sando.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell recently expressed his confidence that Darnold can continue his strong play through the final two weeks of the season, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
“When people have decided that you can’t play in their own minds, sometimes instead of it being a product of a guy deserving the credit for playing really good football, it’s always just, When’s it going to go the other way?” O’Connell said, per Breer. “I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t think that’s fair to him. He came here for the opportunity. He came here to be a Minnesota Viking, play in our offense, with the players around him. And I have a blast coaching him.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. There’s really not much more to it than that.”
Adam Schefter says there will be ‘intriguing scenarios’ for Sam Darnold this offseason
“This is going to continue to become an interesting storyline. To date the Vikings and Sam Darnold haven’t had any discussions aimed at a long-term contract extension,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Monday on The Pat McAfee Show, reiterating a point he made earlier in December about a lack of talks between the sides.
“I think that they figure, ‘Let’s just let this play out and see where it goes.’ But with every week that Sam Darnold continues to play like this, you just look at the quarterback market this offseason I can count, right now, minimum of seven teams that are going to need a new quarterback for next year,” Schefter said. “There are, in this upcoming draft, two quarterbacks that I think teams feel strongly about in Sheduer Sanders and Cam Ward. Those quarterbacks will go to two of those teams, that leaves us with five teams with major quarterback questions.
“There aren’t enough quarterbacks to satisfy the teams that have a quarterback need, which is why that plays right into Sam’s bargaining power. So, the question becomes, how much will he command (on the) market? What will some teams be willing to commit to him? Then Minnesota has to make a decision, ‘OK, do we want to go commit to this guy?’ I think there’s going to be some intriguing scenarios out there for Sam Darnold.”
What those scenarios will be are anybody’s guess at this point. Minnesota still has two weeks remaining in the season and the chance to claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Vikings have rookie J.J. McCarthy, who they drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, waiting in the wings, which certainly complicates the decision for Minnesota.
What those scenarios will be are anybody’s guess at this point. Minnesota still has two weeks remaining in the season and the chance to claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Vikings have rookie J.J. McCarthy, who they drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, waiting in the wings, which certainly complicates the decision for Minnesota.
“That fourth-quarter, game-winning drive encapsulates all of Sam Darnold. The athletic ability, the toughness, making big throws in big moments. There is no denying he is helping pull this team,” Cowherd added. “That last drive, man, that’s something else. And again, lost their left tackle, wasn’t perfect. This team could still be the No. 1 seed.”
According to Over The Cap, a franchise tag for a quarterback next offseason is projected to be around $41.3 million. While that’s certainly a steep price tag, the Vikings could afford it without inflicting too much damage on their salary cap.
Minnesota will have a projected $76.4 million in available cap space in the 2025 offseason. The question then becomes how much they want to invest in Darnold when they have McCarthy in the wings.
“If you’re the Vikings and you drafted, and believe in, J.J. McCarthy, how high are you willing to go for Sam Darnold to keep him?” Schefter said. “Do you want to just run it back with him? Do you want to compromise your cap like that? Or do you believe in J.J. enough, have you seen enough to turn it over to him right now?
“It’s a really interesting decision that they’re going to have make here.”
Whether Minnesota wants to keep Darnold — taking up a big chunk of cap space the franchise could use to help add signifcant pieces to a roster clearly ready to contend — or let Darnold walk and hand the reigns to McCarthy — giving themselves significantly more money to throw at game-changing free agents — is a massive decision to make.
But, with the Vikings in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, that’s a decision for a different day. Darnold still has two more regular-season games and at least one playoff game to increase his profile and bargaining power.
“It took awhile, but he’s special,” Cowherd said.
Sam Darnold’s incredible season is putting him in rare company
What Sam Darnold is doing this season should not be overlooked or taken for granted. He’s having the type of year that simply doesn’t happen very often.
Darnold threw three more touchdown passes in the Vikings’ win over the Seahawks, including an incredible go-ahead strike to Justin Jefferson late in the fourth quarter. He’s helped lead Minnesota to a 13-2 record in his first year with the franchise. Only two other non-rookie quarterbacks in NFL history have led a team to at least 13 wins in their first season with a new team: Steve McNair with the 2006 Ravens and Peyton Manning with the 2012 Broncos.
No QB has ever switched teams and won 14 games in their debut season with a new franchise. Darnold has two opportunities left to become the first.
On Sunday in Seattle, Darnold recorded a 112.3 passer rating, marking his 12th game this season with a passer rating of at least 100. He’s tied with Lamar Jackson this year with 12 such games, which had only been done eight times in league history prior to this season. If Darnold and/or Jackson get one more over the next two weeks, they’ll join Aaron Rodgers (twice) and Patrick Mahomes as the only QBs to ever have 13 games with a 100+ rating in a single season. Both can also tie 2020 Rodgers for the NFL record with 14.
And it should probably come as no surprise that Darnold is the first player to ever change teams and have at least 12 games at 100+ in the following season. For some context, he had a 100+ rating 12 total times in 56 career starts coming into this year.
Darnold also threw for multiple passing touchdowns on Sunday for the 11th time this season. Only Kirk Cousins (12 in both 2020 and ‘21) has more in a season in Vikings history, and Minnesota’s current QB has two games left to tie or break that record.
The numbers are truly remarkable for a player who was written off as a bust during his time with the Jets and Panthers. Darnold was always physically capable of making high-level throws, which is why he was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, but this is the first time he’s ever fully put it all together and played at a consistently high level. Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings’ infrastructure are certainly a big part of that, but Darnold also deserves plenty of credit for how far he’s come.
With two weeks left in the season, Darnold has 3,776 passing yards (sixth in the NFL), 32 touchdowns (fifth), and a 105.4 rating (fourth). He’s won as many games in 15 starts with the Vikings as he did in 38 starts with the Jets. He should be a virtual lock for the Pro Bowl and perhaps even in the mix for second team All-Pro honors with a strong finish to the year.
Kevin O’Connell on Growing Connection Between Sam Darnold & Justin Jefferson; Roster Depth
Kevin O’Connell is forging a hot route to NFL Coach of the Year honors.
For now, however, a game ball awarded to him by one of the Vikings captains is symbolic enough.
“I think that was my third one,” O’Connell said Monday after the 27-24 win at Seattle.
“I truly have really relished those moments with the team after these victories, where we’re able to go and put a lot of different parts of this organization together in a 3-hour window to get a win,” O’Connell reflected, noting his second game ball was received in November 2022 following the birth of his second daughter and fourth child, Callie. “Those have been the real highlights for the year for me, for sure, and nobody I respect more than Brian O’Neill, so to get that from him in that moment was really special.”
1. Play of the season?
Darnold grimaced in pain after a second-and-10 sack and laid with his face in the rain-soaked turf.
The play was negated by a face mask penalty, but there was still the effect of the hit.
“I checked with him via the headset – the classic, ‘Are you OK?’ and he can’t talk back,” O’Connell quipped.
Darnold gave a thumbs up, which is all K.O. needed, and proceeded to find Jefferson.
In the immediate aftermath, O’Connell pondered it as the play of the season. Fewer than 24 hours later, he reflected on Darnold rising to his feet, then rising up in the pocket and feathering a touchdown to the Vikings big-play star as the atmosphere at Lumen Field reached a crescendo with an equal amazement.
“It was just a fantastic play,” O’Connell confirmed.
On their fiery connection as of late – Jefferson has produced 31 catches for 448 yards and five touchdowns in his past four appearances – O’Connell eloquently explained it relates to “time on task.”
That’s the Saturday morning meetings. The Thursday third-down debriefs. Darnold’s growing experience and command of the system. Jefferson’s overall football intelligence and instincts – developed through three years of facing every coverage known to mankind. They’re all interconnected and paying dividends.
When the Vikings need it most, too.
“We can stack all the information gathered [in games] on top of the thousand upon thousands of reps of building that rapport, that those guys can then make those plays in those moments,” O’Connell expressed.
2. December to remember
To think it’s nearly January is absurd. But time flies when you’re having fun – and winning.
“To start the month of December off the way we have and knowing the critical time of the year it is for our team, I do think we’re doing a lot of the right things and doing the things that win this time of year,” O’Connell said in his opening remarks. “It’s going to be something we’re going to have to do this week.”
Some of those right things are …
Protecting the football: Minnesota has turned the rock over four times in its past six games and only twice in four December affairs. In that latter span, the Vikings defense has amassed eight takeaways.
Darnold, specifically, has been “lights out as a decision maker” per O’Connell.
Dating to his three-pick game at Jacksonville – and the third of Minnesota’s eight-game win streak – Darnold has clipped 131 of 200 throws (65.5%) for 272.5 yards per game and a TD-INT ratio of 15:1.
Finishing: The four December wins so far include two go-ahead touchdown passes in the final four minutes (against NFC West foes Arizona and at Seattle), and two more convincing results where the Purple defense tightened its hold on Atlanta and Chicago, pitching three shutout quarters combined.
Both are indicative of strides that should set up Minnesota to be ultra-competitive down the stretch.
3. Intentional camaraderie
You can’t really “coach” camaraderie. But you can be an example of it. You can set a standard with actions. And you can seek out players and people who will practice those habits to the greatest extent.
That’s part of team building – an intentional endeavor for Minnesota that has reaped joyous results, with defensive players celebrating offensive successes and vice-versa; it’s a special top-to-bottom connection.
“I thought it would be a critical part of truly maximizing who we would become as a team,” said O’Connell, adding the process began by acquiring the right kind of players. “Not just for moments like yesterday, but there’s been a lot of them throughout the year where complementary football, sometimes is something that people throw out as a loose term, but to do that, you’ve got to have the right makeup.”
“It starts to get ingrained,” O’Connell said, praising his players’ ownership. “I’m not telling those guys what to say. I’m not telling them anything other than messages of what I think it’s going to take to win every game we play, but then also the foundational piece that between our football philosophy and what we feel very strongly about that matters is the makeup of our locker room and the culture that those guys have built here, that we’re all trying to adhere to that standard, because it’s not about ourselves.”
4. Next-man-up mentality
Bobby McCain and Theo Jackson are the latest little-known Vikings to make meaningful contributions.
Little-known isn’t meant as a slight – they just happen to be buried in one of the NFL’s deepest safety rooms. But they seized their moment Sunday afternoon, rotating in roles to help account for the absence of Harrison Smith who was inactive with a foot injury. McCain played 37 defensive snaps and Jackson 21.
“I think we’ve seen that all across the board on our team this year,” O’Connell emphasized. “A lot of those guys – getting elevated, stepping in, playing and doing some really good things in all three phases.”
Each player was involved in four tackles – and Jackson, who O’Connell credited with having “maybe one of the best offseasons out of anybody on our team,” silenced the frenetic “12th Man” with an interception.
McCain, who has started 87 games in his career and overlapped with Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores in Miami, is someone O’Connell has leaned on for perspective during the club’s 13-2 start.
Primarily acting as a scout team player each week, McCain has been a sounding board, O’Connell said, for the adjustments that the offense has made in practice to elevate the execution of concepts in games.
That readiness extended to the trenches, with rookie seventh-round draft pick Levi Drake Rodriguez, who appeared on defense for the first time in his career (he made his NFL debut on Sunday Night Football against the Colts in Week 9 but exclusively played special teams) and made an impact on limited snaps.
“He’s a guy we’re pouring into, obviously, for the long term,” O’Connell disclosed. “We think he’s got a lot of upside from a versatility standpoint, rushing the passer, continuing to grow and defending the run.”
Rodriguez was around the ball on single-digit ops, stuffing Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III on a first-and-goal run on one instance, as well as jumping to deflect a third-down pass from Geno Smith.
“We have a lot of confidence in Levi to go in there and do his job and that’s what he did,” O’Connell said.
A little Christmas coal for your stockings!
NFL Overrated and Underrated Teams: Week 17
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are somehow 12-2. Their defense is excellent, but their offense hasn’t been very convincing since the Christian Darrisaw injury, outside of their win over the hapless Falcons. None of the teams they’ve beaten since the Darrisaw injury have a winning record, by the way, save for the Falcons and Seahawks. Their best wins otherwise were against the Cardinals and Colts, all of whom are 7-8 or worse. They had a three-point win at Seattle, but were outgained in total yards and yards per play.
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