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, usually with discussions that happen late into the night time at Excessive Velocity, the bar on the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
One of many huge names to observe 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 may put him in line for a giant payday.
Nevertheless, whether or not that occurs in Minnesota stays to be seen, because the Vikings have 2024 first-round choose J.J. McCarthy ready within the wings.
In line 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 providers.
“I’m instructed the Minnesota Vikings are open to doing a cope with Sam Darnold,” began Fowler.
“Folks I’ve talked to across the league imagine that the franchise tag shouldn’t be 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 long run for Sam Darnold if he’s getting main financial institution with one other group someplace else, they in all probability gained’t mortgage their future in that regard, however they’re actually open to having him again. They beloved having him.”
Ought to Minnesota finally transfer on from Darnold, they do have choices on the roster behind him. The Vikings signed Daniel Jones to the follow squad halfway by means of the 2024 marketing campaign, and promoted him to the energetic roster for the playoffs. Then there may be McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season with a knee damage.
In line with Fowler McCarthy is the long run, however Jones does give the group 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 willpower but, however he would be the man, so whoever steps on this yr is actually a bridge quarterback,” continued Fowler.
“Daniel Jones may make some sense. I’m instructed that he’s nonetheless on the desk as an choice. He was within the constructing final yr. He could be a less expensive various to Sam Darnold.”
What the Vikings determine 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 subsequent week.
