With the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix simply across the nook, NFL free company is about to kick into excessive gear.
Whereas the league’s official authorized tampering interval doesn’t start till March 10, anybody who has made the journey to Indianapolis is aware of full nicely that the unofficial begin to free company comes throughout the Mix, typically with discussions that happen late into the evening at Excessive Velocity, the bar on the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
One of many massive names to look at this free company cycle? Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold turned in a dream season for the Vikings, placing Minnesota on the cusp of the highest seed within the NFC.
Whereas Minnesota misplaced in Week 18, after which the next week within the Wild Card Spherical, Darnold’s spectacular season might put him in line for an enormous payday.
Nonetheless, whether or not that occurs in Minnesota stays to be seen, because the Vikings have 2024 first-round decide J.J. McCarthy ready within the wings.
In accordance with a brand new report from ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings are “open” to a brand new deal for Darnold, who performed on a one-year contract this previous season.
However the Vikings is not going to “mortgage” their future for his companies.
“I’m instructed the Minnesota Vikings are open to doing a take care of Sam Darnold,” began Fowler.
“Folks I’ve talked to across the league imagine that the franchise tag is just not the likeliest path in Minnesota … that’s a excessive variety of round $40 million. So Minnesota’s stance appears to be that they’re not gonna mortgage the longer term for Sam Darnold if he’s getting main financial institution with one other crew some place else, they most likely received’t mortgage their future in that regard, however they’re actually open to having him again. They cherished having him.”
Ought to Minnesota ultimately transfer on from Darnold, they do have choices on the roster behind him. The Vikings signed Daniel Jones to the follow squad halfway by way of the 2024 marketing campaign, and promoted him to the lively roster for the playoffs. Then there may be McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season with a knee harm.
In accordance with Fowler McCarthy is the longer term, however Jones does give the crew an choice for the current.
“What was made clear to me, although, is JJ McCarthy is the franchise quarterback in some unspecified time in the future, whether or not that’s six months or now, 12 months, 18 months, they haven’t made that agency dedication but, however he would be the man, so whoever steps on this 12 months is basically a bridge quarterback,” continued Fowler.
“Daniel Jones might make some sense. I’m instructed that he’s nonetheless on the desk as an choice. He was within the constructing final 12 months. He could be a less expensive different to Sam Darnold.”
What the Vikings resolve relating to Darnold stays to be seen, however we’ll preserve you up to date as all of the chatter emerges from Indianapolis over the following week.
