Following a standout year on a one-year, prove-it deal, there was some expectation that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had made significant strides to enhance his contract prospects for 2025. Given how the 2025 offseason is unfolding, it seems that Darnold may face some difficulties in capitalizing on his rising momentum, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
It appeared that the NFL had nearly lost faith in Darnold as a starting quarterback. After displaying potential by winning seven out of 13 games in his second season with the Jets, all optimism faded when he finished with a 2-10 record the following year. The Panthers provided New York with reasonable value in a trade, only to watch Darnold finish 4-7 in his initial year with the team and get benched the next season.
In 2023, Darnold, a free agent, joined the 49ers and had to secure the backup quarterback position behind Brock Purdy, competing against Trey Lance. Following his victory for the backup position, he started once in 10 games, experiencing the least playing time of his career.
After serving as a backup for a year, Darnold agreed to a one-year, $10M contract with the Vikings, who were parting ways with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and selecting J.J. McCarthy, the College Football National Championship-winning quarterback from Michigan. Acquiring Darnold provided them with a backup choice if McCarthy wasn’t prepared to assume control as a rookie.
His substantial experience as a starter positioned him as a key contender for the starting role against the 21-year-old, who could act as a solid backup if the rookie secures the position.
That competition ended abruptly when McCarthy sustained a meniscus injury that necessitated complete repair surgery, causing him to miss his entire rookie season. Darnold took on the starting position and guided the Vikings to contend for the NFC’s top overall seed with a 143 record, achieving personal bests in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) while only throwing 12 interceptions. Darnold and the Vikings emerged as the season’s surprise, and it was anticipated that his worth as a free agent would surge as a consequence.
It’s no surprise that potential trade target Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles attracted the most interest from teams looking to obtain a veteran quarterback. Since he’s staying with the Rams, Darnold has emerged as the new leading choice. The Raiders are a team that made strong efforts for Stafford, but various sources at The Athletic state they were only ready to spend big on Stafford.
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