As the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback situation continues to evolve, Sam Darnold’s future with the team appears increasingly uncertain. On February 9, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Las Vegas Raiders are likely to pursue Darnold if he becomes a free agent. “The one team I would keep an eye on for Sam Darnold is the Las Vegas Raiders,” Schefter said to Mike Greenberg ahead of Super Bowl 2025. “I think they’ll be interested in trying to bring Darnold to Las Vegas at some point.”
Meanwhile, rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy is set to resume football activities soon and should be ready for OTAs in May, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero. The Vikings face a tricky decision: signing Darnold to a large extension while keeping McCarthy could hinder their ability to improve the roster through free agency (due to financial constraints) and the NFL draft, where they only have four picks. The team will also likely need to address their offensive line and secondary if they hope to repeat their 14-win performance next season.
Daniel Jones
Without the franchise tag, it’s possible Darnold could leave, even after throwing for over 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns during his age-27 season. In that case, the Vikings would likely look to sign a veteran quarterback to back up or compete with McCarthy.
Rapoport and Pelissero suggest Daniel Jones could be a logical option, especially after his brief stint with the Vikings following his release from the New York Giants. Another potential target is four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, who is expected to leave the New York Jets next season. However, Rodgers may be more interested in a starting role, potentially pushing Minnesota lower on his list of options as free agency approaches.
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