The Minnesota Vikings just had a massive 27-24 road win over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 that keeps them tied with the Detroit Lions for the NFC North crown and the No. 1 overall seed. The highlight of the game is undoubtedly the quarterback Sam Darnolds 39-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the fourth quarter that hauled in the game-winning score. And NFL Broadcaster Colin Cowherd thinks the Vikings should bring him back next year and not let him become a free agent.
Sam Darnold is likely to stick with the Vikings next year, according to insiders
The Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract last offseason. He was expected to serve as a bridge quarterback to a rookie Minnesota was looking to add in the 2024 NFL Draft. According to a report from Sports Illustrated Coach Kevin O’Connell want to agree with Darnold. However, the team has already drafted JJ McCarthy this year. The Vikings have not ruled out offering Darnold a contract for next season and it would be quite curious if the job was handed to McCarthy, who has spent his rookie season recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.
“How on earth do you let Sam Darnold go? “I mean, is where I talked to a manager yesterday who said they’re too smart to let him go,” shared Colin Cowherd, who has been rooting for Darnold for quite some time.
Minnesota made JJ McCarthy the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and Cowherd thinks the Vikings should adjust their plans because of how well Darnold has played.
“Sometimes it takes a while to be right. This is no longer just a good story. This is a great team and he’s a great quarterback … quarterbacks are either trucks — pulling the team — or they’re trailers , where they pull. Sam (Darnolds) a truck. He pulls this team,” Cowherd said on his show “The Herd.”
“To me, at least you have to franchise him. Can’t let him go. What if he ends up somewhere along the way and comes back to beat you? Maybe this is the best Sam can ever be… I’m not going to deny it… but outline your life in pencil. Plans change,” he added.
According to projections, the 2025 quarterback franchise tag is worth $40 million. The Vikings reportedly have $78 million in cap space and could easily add Darnold to their roster next season if they wanted to. Experts have also pointed out that they could spend some money to supplement McCarthy with a better cast.
But it’s clear that if Darnold leads the Vikings deep into the playoffs, it would be hard for the team to let him leave. Head coach Kevin O’Connell appears to have thrown his hat in the ring for Darnold as QB. Since the start of the season, O’Connell has praised Darnold’s performance and has been something of a mentor to him.
“Kevin seemed almost a little indignant at the idea of the other shoe dropping,” said sportswriter Albert Breer. He indicates the Vikings head coach is wary of fans saying things could go wrong with Darnold because he wants the team to commit to Darnold at the QB position.
It’s clear that the Vikings have been great offensively in the 2024 NFL season, and O’Connell himself pointed that out. “I want the guys to have some freedom in those moments, especially we’re doing a lot of things with Justin (Jefferson) and Sam (Darnold), seeing the coverage, and then having some route options to get to at the line of scrimmage,” O’Connell said about Darnold and wide receiver Justin Jefferson after the game.
“I think these guys have gotten so comfortable with that that they can execute it the way they did, which was maybe the play, absolutely the play in the play, maybe even considering just one moment and the circumstances of the season as well,” O’Connell added.
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