With Kirk Cousins leaving for Atlanta early in the free agency process, the Minnesota Vikings turned to the much-maligned Sam Darnold as their primary quarterback, at least temporarily. Darnold hasn’t lived up to his draft status since being taken third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, struggling in stints in New York and Carolina.
Pro Football Focus believes the Vikings made a wise decision in bringing Darnold on board, calling his acquisition the finest move the team made this summer.
The Vikings made some huge moves by re-signing Justin Jefferson and drafting J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner, but the Sam Darnold contract has the potential to be the most lucrative.
Darnold will not be the franchise quarterback, but signing him in 2024 offers the Vikings the flexibility to avoid rushing McCarthy into action while the team is still competitive. Darnold was worth the $10 million this year because he allowed Minnesota to be flexible and patient with McCarthy.
I placed the bold emphasis in the quote because I believe it is significant.
Darnold has talent. I mean, you don’t get to be the third overall choice in the NFL Draft unless you do, right? He is still only 27 years old and, as we noted the other day, now has the best cast of skill position talent he has ever played with in Minnesota. If the defense is more like what we saw in the middle of last season and less like what we saw at the end, this team has a chance to win football games because the offense can score points.
I understand that the Really Smart Football People™ may have low expectations for Sam Darnold. They presumably didn’t anticipate much from Case Keenum a couple years back when Sam Bradford was injured. No one did, to be honest. But Keenum produced because, like Darnold, he was surrounded by a wealth of ability in the skill positions and placed in a position to succeed.
I am not suggesting Sam Darnold will lead the Vikings to the 2024 NFL Championship Game, but I also do not believe he will lead them to a top five choice in the 2025 NFL Draft.
What do you think was the Vikings’ best offseason move, fans?
