With the Vikings at 11-2, the Future Looks Bright for Quarterback Darnold

Quarterback Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before facing the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 1 in Minneapolis. David Berding/Getty Images

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold will be a hot-ticket item on the NFL free agent market, said offensive coordinator Wes Phillips.

Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings to serve as a bridge quarterback for first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. But Darnold has embarked on an MVP-caliber campaign, leading the team to an 11-2 record and putting up career numbers. Phillips said Darnold’s season so far should put to rest concerns about his ability to be a starting quarterback, after he struggled early in his career.

“In my mind, I would hope he would kind of say, ‘Hey, the body of work that I’ve put in so far is going to take care of the future, so really all I need to worry about is right now,'” Phillips said at a press conference Tuesday.

“We all know that Sam is gonna be a sought-after type of guy from wherever that may be,” Phillips added. “Whatever his future ends up being, I know all of us in this building are gonna be happy for him. ... He’s proven that he can play in this league.”

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell also praised Darnold. “I just can’t say enough about how Sam’s handled himself,” O’Connell said Monday. “Thinking back to the different kind of moments throughout his journey this year and how he’s maximized every single [opportunity] coming out of what’s been a very successful season, chasing improvement.”

Darnold completed 22 of 28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns in the Vikings’ 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Dec. 8, spoiling the return of former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. Darnold was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. It was Darnold’s second Player of the Week award in his career—he won AFC Offensive Player of the Week with the New York Jets in 2019. It was also his second award this year; he won NFC Player of the Month in September.

Darnold has thrown for 3,299 yards through 13 games, with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has also rushed for 194 yards and a touchdown. His performance has placed him firmly in the conversation for NFL MVP; he has the sixth-best odds to win, according to Vegas Insider.

But Darnold has always been seen as a bridge quarterback; the Vikings have 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. McCarthy competed with Darnold and served as backup quarterback during the preseason. He appeared in the first preseason game, throwing for 188 yards and two touchdowns with one interception, and added 18 yards rushing. But he fully tore the meniscus in his right knee and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Darnold was drafted by the Jets with the third overall pick in 2018. He struggled mightily in his rookie season: his first career pass was infamously intercepted and returned for a touchdown, though the Jets went on to defeat the Detroit Lions, 48-17. Darnold continued to struggle with the Jets. He surpassed 3,000 passing yards only once, when he passed for 3,024 yards in 2019. He threw double-digit interceptions in all three seasons in New York, and in 2020 he threw more interceptions, 11, than touchdowns, nine. He never posted a winning record.

Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021. In his two years with Carolina, he played in just 17 games. He became a free agent in 2023 and signed with the San Francisco 49ers, competing with former third-overall pick Trey Lance and 2022 “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy. Purdy became the full-time starter, and Darnold started just one game.