The Minnesota Vikings scored big when they signed Sam Darnold to a $10 million contract last season, but their good fortune may soon come to an end.
Before Darnold even took his first snap in Week 1, Minnesota was already preparing for the possibility of a breakout season. “General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, with his analytics background, alerted coach Kevin O’Connell to the potential of Darnold earning a multi-year deal even before the 2024 season began,” ESPN’s Ben Solak reported on January 28.
As recently as Super Bowl week, O’Connell hinted that Darnold would be an integral part of the team moving forward. “Our goal is to win a championship, and Sam Darnold is going to be a huge part of it when we do it,” O’Connell said on February 6.
- Sam Darnold
However, keeping Darnold long-term would likely require the Vikings to trade J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft—a move that has yet to be discussed within the organization.
On Super Bowl Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Las Vegas Raiders could emerge as the top competitor for Darnold’s services in free agency. This has sparked speculation that players like Daniel Jones or Aaron Rodgers could replace Darnold in Minnesota, while others, like USA Today’s Nick Brinkerhoff, believe that Darnold may find a new home in 2025. “The Raiders make sense,” Brinkerhoff said. “They could take a chance on Darnold and hope his strong 2024 performance continues.”
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