Which Viking Has the Most to Prove in 2024?
In previous years, it was pretty easy to put the label “Viking under the most pressure” on Kirk Cousins, the team’s quarterback. He was under constant scrutiny after signing his first contract worth $84 million for three seasons. While quarterbacks around him climbed the salary ladder, the pressure on him stayed, and the lack of team success was always held against him, fair or not.
Which Viking Has the Most to Prove in 2024?
But now that he’s gone, who will take his spot? An argument could be made for Justin Jefferson, who agreed to a four-year contract extension of $140 million in the offseason. That kind of money puts a target on his back. The good news for him is that he is undoubtedly an elite player, and if he continues to perform that way, there’s no criticizing the face of the franchise.
A different story is quarterback Sam Darnold. Cousins’ successor was the third overall pick in 2018, and New York Jets fans expected him to protect them from further misery. Three years later, the Jets drafted Zach Wilson and shipped Darnold to Carolina. Once again, he was asked to be the QB1, and again, he failed to reach the lowered expectations.
After a year of backup duties behind Brock Purdy in Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense, the Vikings will be his third real chance in the league ‒ and likely his last.
Some of the pressure was taken off his shoulders when J.J. McCarthy was placed on IR, as he is now the unquestioned starter, with Nick Mullens not providing a serious threat. However, the pressure is still massive for the former USC quarterback.
The next season will determine whether he will be the next Baker Mayfield or Geno Smith story and can revive his career or if he’s a career backup or even out of the league in a year or two because he just can’t get it done.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports listed him among the ten quarterbacks with the most to prove in 2024:
Six years of NFL experience may well be evidence enough that Darnold is better-suited on the bench, where he spent all of 2023 for the San Francisco 49ers. Yes, his setups with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers were less than ideal, but often so was his decision-making. Even so, he’s got a prime opportunity — surely the best he’s had since coming out of USC — to at least hold a starting gig for a competitive team now that he’s working with Justin Jefferson and under Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota. The Vikings should give him a decent leash with rookie J.J. McCarthy on the mend, helping his cause.
The weaponry will indeed be helpful. Jefferson is open even when he’s covered, and he can always come down with the ball if given a chance. Teammate Jordan Addison had a wonderful rookie season and hopes he can build on that, perhaps aiming for the 1,000 yards he missed by only 89 yards last year.
T.J. Hockenson opens the season on the PUP list, still rehabbing from injury, but a return after Week 4 is possible. Head coach Kevin O’Connell got a lot out of Joshua Dobbs for a short stretch, and Cousins looked like an MVP candidate before his unfortunate Achilles injury. Even with Mullens under center, O’Connell’s offense remained explosive, but the turnovers cost them.
Turnovers are a big part of Darnold’s story, too. In his first four seasons in the league, Darnold threw for 15, 13, 11, and 13 interceptions, respectively. Those are high but still acceptable numbers on the surface, but the problem is that he never played in more than 13 games, making those totals unacceptable. It will be the main point of emphasis.
Darnold’s career and the Vikings’ season will hinge on his play in the upcoming season.
The quarterback turned 27 in June.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt