Franchise Tagging Sam Darnold is the Minnesota Vikings’ Only Option
This season, nobody gave the Minnesota Vikings much of a chance. Sam Darnold was once selected third overall, but he was declared a flop a long time ago. Naturally, though, things changed when he landed with Kevin O’Connell.
Being one of the most sought-after quarterbacks on the market, Darnold will be eligible for a substantial salary this offseason. And amid the gold rush, the NFL’s most sought-after quarterbacks might as well be rivers of gold.
Are we to assume, then, that the Vikings will simply let such a valuable player leave with nothing more than a wave good-bye?
With Sam Darnold, the Minnesota Vikings need to be business-oriented.
At first, Sam Darnold was considered a bridge quarterback by the Minnesota Vikings. He agreed to a one-season contract worth $10 million and was eventually set to make way for rookie J.J. McCarthy. But based on his performance, he might never have quit, regardless of who supported him.
Indeed, the Minnesota Vikings will not be interested in Darnold for several years at Kirk Cousins-level compensation. However, that does not imply that they must allow him to stroll while receiving almost nothing in exchange. Instead, they ought to franchise tag him, which would provide Minnesota with every quarterback choice they could possibly desire in 2025. Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune is beginning to share this belief.
With the franchise tag, the Minnesota Vikings might get another season out of Sam Darnold without making a long-term commitment. When Darnold is first positioned for a long-term payout, is there a certain amount of cruelty involved in controlling his future? Yes, perhaps.
The 2025 franchise tag at quarterback, however, will be close to $40 million. The Vikings are profiting from their efforts to develop the quarterback, and he is receiving a sizable salary.
Receiving a future compensation choice in the middle rounds would not be very advantageous for Minnesota. The roster-building process would be much more thrilling if they were able to get a first-round pick or something similar.
Darnold has passed for 3,530 yards and 29 touchdowns in 14 games. He only has 11 selections this season and has ceased throwing them. It’s difficult to overlook this Darnold as the top choice for teams in a diluted QB draft and an unpredictable free agent market.The only commitment made by using the tag on Darnold, Minnesota, is asset management. By remaining with the Vikings, Daniel Jones might reset his price, and J.J. McCarthy can still be expected to start in Week 1.
No matter what form Darnold is available in, there should be a lot of clubs interested in signing him. The idea that three quarterbacks with Minnesota connections—Darnold, Cousins, and Jones—will dominate the offseason narrative is a bit absurd.
