Daily Norseman
How many Quarterback scenarios can we dream up?
I know that many fans feel like we have beaten the (who is the QB) horse to death already. Nah. We are just getting started IMO. There is a ton more wailing and gnashing of the teeth that we are capable of producing. Sounds like fun to me. I will say that it could be difficult for any veteran QB to get full support from the fans next year. If they have any bad outing or even some bad drives or interceptions, the fans will be clamoring for JJ McCarthy. I do not believe the veteran QBs want to be in that situation although I think money talks the most.
I am looking forward to the combine to see the actual measurements of the players. There are always some surprises.
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A look at the pros and cons of quarterback options for Vikings in 2025
The talk of the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings is who will take the first snap under center in 2025.
The Vikings could bring back last year’s starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, either by the franchise tag or a longer-term deal. They could roll with J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected with the No. 10 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft. They could sign a veteran, like Daniel Jones who was with their practice squad last season, to compete with McCarthy and be an insurance option. They could bring in a veteran — names like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford have been floating as potential options for the Vikings. Who will they roll with next season, and what are the pros and cons of each option?
Sam Darnold
Pros
Darnold is coming off the best year of his career in his first season in Minnesota, posting the fifth-most passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) in the NFL in 2024. The Vikings know what they have in Darnold: a quarterback who knows Kevin O’Connell’s offense and can excel in the system. You have to want to run that back in 2025.
Darnold is still only 27 years old. There’s plenty more good football ahead of him.
Chemistry. Darnold spent an entire season building familiarity with Minnesota’s wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. They’d be able to hit the ground running with Darnold back under center next season.
Cons
Darnold’s price tag will go up significantly one way or another. It seems like most likely scenario for Darnold to return is the franchise tag, which would pay him $41 million for next season, a significant jump from the one-year, $10 million contract he played on last season. That would limit what the Vikings could spend on other positions of need in free agency, and there are certainly other holes to fill on the roster. Is the money best spent on Darnold?
***Darnold had a fantastic season, but it was also something he hadn’t showed before in the NFL. And his struggles in the...
