The Minnesota Vikings may face a dilemma if Sam Darnold leaves in free agency and J.J. McCarthy takes over the offense without any NFL regular season experience. While it’s not certain that Darnold will depart, there’s a good chance he could secure a $40 million annual deal on the open market. If that happens, experts suggest the Vikings might not be willing to match the offer due to other positional needs. “If Darnold’s market is close to $40 million per year, the Vikings will likely be priced out as they focus on other areas,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote.
In this scenario, Daniel Jones could become a potential option for Minnesota after his mid-season release from the New York Giants. However, if Darnold’s free agency results in a higher-than-expected price, Jones might find a better deal and starting opportunity elsewhere at age 28. Minnesota could also consider acquiring a similarly skilled quarterback at a lower cost than Jones’ potential price. Letting Jones leave might also result in a compensatory draft pick for the Vikings, who are low on draft capital for 2025. A quick review of free agent QBs could provide the team with a list of veteran backup candidates.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin speculated that Jimmy Garoppolo might be the Vikings’ eventual choice. At 33, Garoppolo is older and less dynamic than Darnold, but he would likely come at a more affordable price. Garoppolo has experience on big stages with the San Francisco 49ers under current Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and could serve as a stopgap until McCarthy is ready. Garoppolo has passed for nearly 16,000 yards, with 96 touchdowns and 52 interceptions in 11 seasons, boasting a 43-21 regular season record and a 5-2 playoff record.
Leave a Reply