Heading into Week 18 of the regular season, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was in a strong position, seemingly in control of his NFL future. Although a couple of disappointing performances marred the end of the season, he hasn’t completely lost his footing.
As Darnold approaches unrestricted free agency in March at just 27 years old, the relatively weak draft and free agency classes have bolstered his value. Estimates for his next contract suggest it could be worth between $100 million and $160 million, spanning three to four years.
On Tuesday, January 28, ESPN’s Benjamin Solak analyzed Darnold’s market and projected an annual salary range of $30 million to $40 million over the next few seasons. However, Solak noted a key detail: “While the idea of signing Darnold to a four-year, $140 million deal might seem excessive, I wouldn’t be shocked to see those numbers. In practice, it would likely function more like a two-year, $70 million contract with team options for the remaining years if Darnold performs well.”
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