NFL insider predicts if Vikings will maintain onto Sam Darnold

Lengthy earlier than quarterback Sam Darnold flopped badly within the Minnesota Vikings’ ultimate two video games of the season, NFL executives and others famous that the Vikings may afford to retain Darnold’s rights for 2025 by way of the franchise tag as 2024 first-round draft decide J.J. McCarthy continues to recuperate from the full meniscus restore that value him his rookie marketing campaign. 

For a mailbag revealed on Wednesday, NFL insider Albert Breer addressed whether or not or not the Vikings will maintain Darnold from reaching free company. 

“My guess proper now could be the Minnesota Vikings don’t franchise-tag Sam Darnold and as a substitute let the quarterback go to the market, asking that he give them a shot to match any provide he will get,” Breer wrote. “To that finish, Minnesota really may transition-tag Darnold, which might include a less-expensive tender and the possibility to match.” 

As Alex Kennedy talked about for ESPN, the transition tag is just like the non-exclusive franchise tag in that utilizing both would maintain Darnold from turning into an unrestricted free agent. Whereas the transition tag would give the Vikings the best to match any provide Darnold receives from a special membership, Minnesota would not obtain draft picks or different compensation if the 27-year-old left. 

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell referred to Darnold as “a bona fide legit beginning quarterback” who “can win plenty of soccer video games.” O’Connell added that the Vikings “will proceed to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with [Darnold] and his illustration” by means of this month. 

“I do know the Vikings actually like J.J. McCarthy,” Breer continued, “and as long as he’s in a position to regain his weight and energy within the coming weeks, I believe they’d be snug going with him because the starter.”

These are some large “ifs” relating to a Minnesota group that went 14-3 with Darnold as its starter and that has noteworthy stars resembling huge receiver Justin Jefferson able to win now. That the Vikings should still not know precisely what McCarthy will probably be when springtime exercises get underway suggests the membership ought to wish to maintain onto Darnold’s rights for so long as potential by way of both the franchise or transition tag.