Quarterback Sam Darnold will likely be the next NFL quarterback to make a lot of money in free agency.
The Minnesota Vikings have a tough decision to make in the months ahead after their lopsided NFL wild-card round exit on Monday night on whether to keep Darnold or let him go.
While a tag-and-trade situation with Darnold and the Vikings could always be in the works, Minnesota might be better off just letting him walk and snagging a good compensatory pick down the road.
Some NFL team is going to make a move for Darnold after his very good 2024 season, even if he struggled mightily in the playoffs. Let’s go through five of his most obvious suitors.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers can’t keep playing the veteran quarterback carousel to maximize Mike Tomlin’s tenure with the team. With a good bit of cap space, Pittsburgh could commit to Darnold for a couple of years if it feels comfortable he can run Arthur Smith’s defense. Honestly, a run-heavy approach that leans on Darnold in the play-action game could be beneficial for everyone involved.
Las Vegas Raiders
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If the Raiders don’t want to make a massive trade up the draft board, signing Darnold could be a nice way to provide stability for a Las Vegas team needing a quarterback. Las Vegas has the cap space to get this done. What if the Raiders hire Brian Flores, and he brings along a member of Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings staff to be his offensive coordinator? This could work for all involved.
Tennessee Titans
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The Titans hold the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, making this a less likely spot for Darnold than it was before the season ended. However, what if Tennessee doesn’t like this quarterback class? It has the money to comfortably sign Darnold and the freedom to trade the first overall pick for a king’s ransom to another team needing a quarterback. Brian Callahan gets his veteran quarterback to try and lead a Titans revival, and Darnold gets sound footing for a starting job.
New York Giants
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The Giants desperately need stability at quarterback, and Darnold could save coach Brian Daboll’s and general manager Joe Schoen’s jobs if he hits. However, New York might not want to take a gamble on another expensive veteran with the potential to underperform on the field. The risk-reward here makes New York a fascinating possible destination for Darnold in March.
New York Jets
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Okay, Darnold being willing to go back to the Jets feels incredibly unlikely. However, New York is hypothetically in better shape than it was when he got drafted here. We could see the Jets making a play for Darnold and promising him things will be better this time than it was last time. New York doesn’t have the most cap space, and Darnold may just pass here on principle. However, we won’t rule the Jets out, if only because they need a quarterback and aren’t in position to draft one.