The Minnesota Vikings are faced with the task of finding a replacement for Sam Darnold ahead of the 2025 season. While rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been making progress in his recovery from knee surgery last August, he still has significant hurdles to overcome.
McCarthy needs to regain the 20 pounds he lost during his rehab and rebuild his throwing mechanics and footwork from scratch. If Darnold departs in free agency, McCarthy would step into a high-pressure situation, taking over a 14-3 team with championship aspirations. For a 22-year-old, that’s a daunting challenge, and the Vikings would likely need a veteran quarterback to serve as a bridge if McCarthy isn’t ready to start by Week 1.CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani has proposed an intriguing solution: the Vikings could trade for Matthew Stafford, who would be an ideal fit in Kevin O’Connell’s system. Dajani highlighted the existing connection between Stafford and O’Connell, who worked together during their time with the Los Angeles Rams, culminating in a Super Bowl LVI victory in 2022. “A return to the NFC North? What the Vikings decide to do at quarterback this offseason is fascinating,” Dajani wrote. “Many assume Darnold will return, but what if another team offers him more money? Stafford and O’Connell already have a proven track record together. Imagine Stafford throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. (Well, maybe not Lions fans.)”
Dajani’s colleague, Tyler Sullivan, speculated on what a potential trade for Stafford might look like. He suggested the Vikings could send their 2025 first-round pick (24th overall) to the Rams in exchange for Stafford. While this would be an all-in move for a short-term solution, it would require Stafford to be on a team-friendly contract to make it feasible. Stafford is currently in a contract standoff with the Rams, as his $49.7 million cap hit for 2025 complicates roster-building efforts. However, Stafford’s wife, Kelly, hinted on her podcast that he is open to taking a pay cut and exploring new opportunities in the NFL, which could make a deal with the Vikings more viable.
Sullivan emphasized the existing relationship between Stafford and O’Connell as a key factor that could facilitate a trade. “Stafford and O’Connell’s history in L.A., which led to a Super Bowl win, could help make this deal happen,” Sullivan wrote on February 12.
Meanwhile, if the Rams decide to move on from Stafford, Darnold could emerge as a potential target for Los Angeles. Darnold demonstrated his ability to operate a pass-heavy, rhythm-based offense in Minnesota, and Rams head coach Sean McVay, known for his offensive ingenuity, might view Darnold as a viable option to reset at quarterback for the next several years. This scenario could create a quarterback carousel between the Vikings and Rams, with both teams addressing their needs in unique ways.
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