What’s Ahead for Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings?
Another Season, Same Story: The Minnesota Vikings’ year ends in familiar disappointment—another playoff exit marked by the opposing team’s celebration and lingering questions about the future.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell’s “1-0” mantra fell flat when it mattered most, as Brian Flores’ once-dominant defense faltered, and quarterback Sam Darnold’s Cinderella story unraveled at the worst possible time.
Darnold now joins the ranks of short-term quarterbacks who delivered excitement but fell short of sustainability for the Vikings—Brett Favre in 2009, Sam Bradford in 2016, Case Keenum in 2017, and Joshua Dobbs last year. Darnold’s season was a rollercoaster, starting with five straight wins and a nine-game streak after a midseason slump. His performance won over fans and padded his stats, likely setting him up for a solid payday.
But will that payday come from the Vikings? That’s the looming question after Darnold’s struggles in the two most critical games of the season.
In Week 18 against the Detroit Lions, with the division title on the line, Darnold completed just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards and no touchdowns. The following week, the Los Angeles Rams sacked him nine times, as he managed 25 completions on 40 attempts for 245 yards, a touchdown, an interception, and a costly fumble returned for a touchdown.
Can the Vikings justify paying a quarterback who falters under pressure? Yet, how do they let go of a player who delivered 14 wins? This is the dilemma Minnesota faces.
It’s unlikely the Vikings will commit to a lucrative, long-term deal for Darnold after this disappointing finish, especially after moving on from Kirk Cousins and his hefty contract. While Darnold may not demand elite quarterback money, even mid-tier starters like Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith command $25 to $30 million annually. Are the Vikings willing to allocate that kind of money to Darnold, especially when they could use their free-agent budget to pursue impact players like Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, or Blake Cashman?
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