The Vikings are not expected to franchise tag quarterback Sam Darnold ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, according to insider reports from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport on Monday night.
Had they tagged Darnold, he would have been owed about $40.2 million on a one-year deal. There was some speculation the Vikings might tag him and trade him to a quarterback-needy team for draft picks, but recent reports suggest that approach would be challenging. It now looks likely that Darnold will officially hit the free-agent market next week.
Both insiders mentioned that the Vikings are still interested in re-signing Darnold. “Minnesota still is interested in working to re-sign Darnold,” Schefter stated, while Rapoport described the situation as “fluid,” with both sides exploring options. However, it’s unclear how genuine these reports are, as it could be in the Vikings’ best interest to make other teams believe they’re seriously considering bringing Darnold back.
Sam Darnold
If Darnold attracts significant interest, his brief stint with the Vikings may be over after just one season. Minnesota has ample cap space, but with several roster needs, they may prefer signing a cheaper veteran quarterback (like Daniel Jones) to back up 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy rather than committing to Darnold. The situation could take a turn if Darnold’s market isn’t as strong as anticipated, or if he’s willing to take less to stay with head coach Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings.
We’ll see what happens next week. If Darnold departs, the Vikings could receive a third-round compensatory pick in 2026, assuming his departure isn’t offset by free agent signings.
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