What is next for Sam Darnold? | The flock
Sam Darnold fought for Minnesota Vikings in back-to-back decisive loss, including a season-ending loss to Los Angeles Rams. Colin Cowherd discusses Darnold’s future in the NFL.
Minnesota Vikings choose against using their franchise mark on Quarterback Sam Darnold, ESPN reported. Until Tuesday, the NFL team had to decide to place a franchise mark on players.
Darnold is now eligible to explore the free agent market when it opens on March 12, the official start of the NFL’s new league year. The move does not guarantee Darnold’s departure because the Vikings have signaled an interest in potentially working against an agreement on a long -term contract, according to reports.
There are several teams that are likely to try to add an experienced quarterback to their guards during the free agency period, considering that this year’s quarterback draft market is considered thinner than the 2024 class.
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Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold seems to be throwing at Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at the US Bank Stadium. (Matt Krohn/IMAGN -PICTURES)
The franchise mark is a handle that a team can use each season to keep a key player on an expiring contract from leaving while buying time for further evaluation of a long -term deal. But that one year event comes at a steep fixed price based on the top wages in a player’s position.
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For Darnold it would have been between $ 35 million and $ 41 million for 2025, depending on the type of roof.
Darnold led Minnesota to an impressive 14-3 record last season, but the Vikings’ brass are looking at its list for upgrades. The team’s Front Office used a first round of choices on quarterback JJ McCarthy in last year’s NFL draft.
Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold pauses before answering a question during a news conference after a wild-card playoff game against Los Angeles Rams 13 January 2025 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Darnold delivered a strong performance in his first season in Viking’s head coach Kevin O’Connell’s violation.
The Vikings have been busy weighing whether it is worth knocking on the continued progression of Darnold in another season under O’Connell, while McCarthy gets someone else to look and learn after spending his rookie year on injured reserve while recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and Minnesota Viking’s main coach Kevin O’Connell and Fullback CJ Ham (right) before a game against Detroit Lions at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis October 20, 2024. (Jeffrey Becker/Imag- Pictures)
Although Darnold had a regular season, his performance raised in the playoffs. Los Angeles Rams drove to a 27-9 win in their matchup after the season with the Vikings. Darnold was fired nine times and threw an eavesdropping in the game.
The Vikings would be in line for a compensatory draft election in 2026 if Darnold was to sign elsewhere this year.
“I have had a great dialogue with Sam from that time this season ended until recently, and I think my relationship with Sam has grown to a point where the level of respect is soaring,” O’Connell said last week at the NFL scout combined in Indianapolis. “Sam is in a position where NFL thinks he can play quarterback at a high level, so that’s a really good thing. And I feel very proud to be part of helping him get to this point. We see the kind where it goes from here.”
