The biggest name in the 2025 quarterback carousel is set to be Minnesota Vikings’ Sam Darnold, who appears poised to join yet another new team. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Las Vegas Raiders are emerging as a top contender to pursue Darnold in free agency.
This news comes exactly one year after reports surfaced that the Vikings were targeting Darnold as Kirk Cousins’ replacement. After underwhelming stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers—largely due to the dysfunction of those franchises rather than Darnold himself—he spent a season as Brock Purdy’s backup in San Francisco before landing in Minnesota. In his first (and likely only) season with the Vikings, Darnold won 14 regular-season starts, setting a record for the most victories by a quarterback in his debut year with a team.
For the Vikings, Darnold’s performance was a steal for their $10 million investment. However, his late-season struggles—including two poor performances with the No. 1 seed on the line and in the Wild Card round—have left the team ready to move forward with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason opener against the Raiders.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell acknowledged on *PFT Live* that Darnold has earned the right to test free agency, all but confirming his departure. This opens the door for a team like the Raiders, or another quarterback-needy franchise, to sign him as their starter.
For a team like the Raiders, who have struggled to contend in recent years, taking a chance on Darnold—despite his inability to deliver in high-pressure moments—is a low-risk move. While a one-and-done playoff appearance would be a disappointment in Minnesota, it would represent significant progress for the Raiders. Darnold’s next chapter could be in Las Vegas, where he’ll aim to prove he can be the franchise quarterback many once believed he could be.
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