The Minnesota Vikings may see as many as 10 of their starters from the 2024 season enter free agency, with quarterback Sam Darnold topping the list.
Darnold’s upcoming contract is expected to be a key turning point in the NFL over the next month. If the veteran departs Minnesota for a lucrative multi-year deal, it would not only mark the beginning of the J.J. McCarthy era for the Vikings, but could also cause a shift in the top positions of the 2025 NFL Draft.
As rumors about Darnold’s future persist, Marcus Mosher from the 33rd Team predicts that the veteran QB could secure a three-year, $124 million deal in free agency. That figure seems too steep for the Vikings this offseason, and Mosher concurs, suggesting that Darnold might be better off joining Pete Carroll and the quarterback-needy Las Vegas Raiders.
Here’s Mosher’s view on the potential signing:
With the 6th overall pick, it’s unlikely the Las Vegas Raiders will be able to select Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. However, with Pete Carroll now onboard as the new head coach, it doesn’t seem like he’ll prioritize developing a quarterback. Sam Darnold, coming off his best season yet and still only 27, could be an appealing option. The Raiders will need to build around him with high-quality talent, similar to what the Vikings did, but that task becomes easier with players like Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers already on the roster. While Darnold may not be the perfect answer for Las Vegas, he provides a solid option at quarterback in a division that includes Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix.
A move like this would make sense for the Raiders, as it might be too risky to head into the draft in April without a proven QB1 on the roster. Darnold, coming off a 14-win season and a Pro Bowl selection, would provide stability, and bringing him in by March would allow Las Vegas to focus on adding more talent—perhaps someone like Tetairoa McMillan—during the first two days of the draft.
For Minnesota, letting Darnold go in free agency seems like the best choice. With J.J. McCarthy, a promising young prospect, already on the roster, the Vikings are in a good position to move on. While Darnold had an impressive 2024 season, he hasn’t won a playoff game in his seven-year NFL career. After six seasons of solid regular-season play but minimal playoff success with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, Minnesota would be wiser to take advantage of McCarthy’s affordable rookie contract and bet on his untapped potential.
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