The Minnesota Vikings are prepared to cope with the potential loss of Sam Darnold in free agency, and a new prediction suggests that’s exactly what will happen.
Darnold, 27, signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings in 2024 and went on to have a standout season, earning a Pro Bowl nod and setting an NFL record for the most wins (14) by a quarterback in their first year with a new team.
Pro Football Network’s Ben Rolfe predicts that Darnold will take his talents to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers face a challenging situation heading into 2025. While they were competitive in 2024, their performance indicates they should avoid a full rebuild. However, they still need to make significant improvements in several areas if they want to compete for a Super Bowl. They need a quarterback and must address weaknesses at wide receiver, running back, left tackle, and cornerback,” Rolfe wrote on February 19.
“Given last season’s results, it’s clear that Russell Wilson and Justin Fields aren’t the answer to push this team to the next level.”
According to @JFowlerESPN, the Vikings "are open to doing a deal with Sam Darnold", which he's told is more likely than the franchise tag. Daniel Jones is also an option "still on the table". No matter, JJ McCarthy is still very much the future of this franchise.
"What was made… pic.twitter.com/5ToCTUciWP
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) February 20, 2025
Wilson, who made his 10th Pro Bowl in 2024, posted a 6-5 record as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, while Fields finished with a 4-2 record.
Darnold, on the other hand, had a career-best season, completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards and 32 touchdowns, alongside 12 interceptions.
“If Wilson and Fields aren’t returning, then Sam Darnold is the top free agent quarterback available,” Rolfe wrote. “Darnold had his best season with the Vikings, finishing as the QB12 in our QB+ metric—better than both Wilson and Fields. While he still needs some support to lead a team on a deep playoff run, Darnold would keep the Steelers competitive in 2025.”
Sam Darnold a Tag-&-Trade Candidate
Other teams’ chances of acquiring Sam Darnold may hinge on their willingness to part with draft picks in a trade with the Vikings. Minnesota let the deadline to adjust Darnold’s contract void date pass, keeping the option to use the franchise tag on him this offseason.
According to Over The Cap, the franchise tag for quarterbacks in 2025 will be worth $42.4 million. Spotrac has projected Darnold’s annual value at $40.1 million, with a potential four-year, $160.4 million deal in the cards.
While the financial terms are significant, the contract length could pose more of a challenge. The Vikings still have their 2024 first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy, who’s fully recovered after missing his rookie season due to a torn meniscus.
However, McCarthy will need to regain the weight he lost during rehab and prove he can be the Vikings’ starting quarterback during their window of contention.
The Vikings could opt for a non-exclusive franchise tag on Darnold, which would allow them to trade him later. This would give Minnesota time to evaluate McCarthy in football-related activities and establish a baseline cost for teams interested in trading for Darnold. If another team signs Darnold to an offer sheet and the Vikings don’t match, they would receive two first-round picks in return.
Over The Cap projects the Vikings will have $63.3 million in cap space this offseason, but signing Darnold would take up a large portion of that.
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