Pros and Cons of Re-Signing Sam Darnold
Almost a year ago, the Vikings replaced starting quarterback and four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins by signing 2018 third-overall pick and bust Sam Darnold in free agency and later acquired J.J. McCarthy in the draft. Nobody expected Darnold to return for a second season, especially not in a starting role.
Pros and Cons of Re-Signing Sam Darnold
But here we are in March of 2025, and one possibility is gaining some steam: Darnold could re-sign with the Vikings. Apparently, his market isn’t that of a quarterback coming off a 35-touchdown season at the age of 27 but that of a passer who has been with four teams in his NFL career with mixed results.
Ian Rapoport said on Tuesday, the day of the franchise tag deadline: “Free agency starts next week, teams will have the opportunity to make offers to Sam Darnold. The Minnesota Vikings are going to use today and the next couple days to try to lock in Darnold themselves.”
There are countless wrinkles, so let’s check why this makes sense and why it doesn’t make sense for the Vikings (and for Darnold) to pursue another contract.
Why It Makes Sense
Let’s start with the obvious: Darnold produced 35 passing touchdowns and was named to his first Pro Bowl. He led the team to 14 wins and displayed playmaking ability and the physical tools to be a franchise quarterback in the league.
Keeping a player of that caliber in the building surely makes sense, especially if he’s playing the vital quarterback position.
In addition to that, J.J. McCarthy is coming off a lost season, and his development has been put on halt since August. All the reports about the recovery from the knee injury are positive, but he is practically still a rookie who hasn’t played football in a year. Having a plan B is crucial for the Vikings.
In the last few months, many folks have insisted that Daniel Jones, who spent a couple of months with the Vikings, could be that guy after signing a Darnold-like one-year contract worth around $10 million.
However, if Darnold’s market is indeed lower than anticipated, why not sign the ultimate bridge quarterback to another contract and pay the premium of $15 or $20 million for far superior QB play?
Why It Doesn’t Make Sense
But there’s a flip side to the coin.
The first point is that the pay raise of $15 or $20 million would take money away from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s budget, and he needs his flexibility in free agency as numerous in-house free agents need to be replaced or re-signed. The executive needs to rebuild the entire secondary and the running back crew, as well as find reinforcements along the defensive and offensive lines.
The other reason why a second year of Darnold might hurt the club is that McCarthy needs to play at some point.
The tenth overall pick from the 2024 draft appeared in roughly two quarters of preseason play in August and then missed the entire rookie season due to a torn meniscus. However, he has drawn glowing praise from all decision-makers in the Twin Cities and it’s time to see what he can do on the field.
Darnold showed in 2024 that he can’t be relied upon in the playoffs, squandering not only one but two chances to qualify for the divisional round by turning back the clock to his Jets days and playing at a horrendous level. It’s unknown whether McCarthy can get his team to that next level, but it will remain an unknown if he isn’t allowed to play.
Bottom Line
Keeping Darnold on a cheaper contract with the option to spread his cap hit into the future has some benefits and brings some concerns. At the end of the day, GM Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell are paid to make exactly that decision. Last year, they made the right move when they said goodbye to Cousins and welcomed Darnold, so they have earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to managing the QB room regardless of their next move.
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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