The Darnold Decision

[Vanimal46]

I entered this season with skepticism about Darnold. Hoping he’d give us at least 5-6 good games before handing the keys to McCarthy. As each week passes, it’s increasingly difficult to ignore how great he’s been for the Vikings. 

Statistically one of the best seasons we have ever seen from a Vikings QB… For me, if he continues doing this and wins a playoff game or three, we might have to deviate from the plan of letting him walk after the season. 

[Aggies7]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

I entered this season with skepticism about Darnold. Hoping he’d give us at least 5-6 good games before handing the keys to McCarthy. As each week passes, it’s increasingly difficult to ignore how great he’s been for the Vikings. 

Statistically one of the best seasons we have ever seen from a Vikings QB… For me, if he continues doing this and wins a playoff game or three, we might have to deviate from the plan of letting him walk after the season. 

If he gets to the NFCCG, how do you turn it all over to a rookie that played like one half of a preseason game? Obviously the $$$$ will be the deciding factor, but is this a situation where he, considering his unsuccessful past, wants to stay in a place where he’s had success? Outside of the mid season rut he seemed to be in for a few weeks, he’s been really ****ing solid.

I just have a hard time turning over a roster that is now 10-2 to a kid who people weren’t sold on coming out of college. And is coming off an injury. Had this season gone poorly I would definitely think differently. But he’s winning games. Two weeks in a row now, leading a game winning drive late.

[Vanimal46]

4 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

If he gets to the NFCCG, how do you turn it all over to a rookie that played like one half of a preseason game? Obviously the $$$$ will be the deciding factor, but is this a situation where he, considering his unsuccessful past, wants to stay in a place where he’s had success? Outside of the mid season rut he seemed to be in for a few weeks, he’s been really ****ing solid.

I just have a hard time turning over a roster that is now 10-2 to a kid who people weren’t sold on coming out of college. And is coming off an injury. Had this season gone poorly I would definitely think differently. But he’s winning games. Two weeks in a row now, leading a game winning drive late.

I get it. I was adamant about sticking to the plan of McCarthy starting in 2025, but Darnold is making it difficult to move on. I would be open to a Baker Mayfield type extension 3/$75-90 million at this point. Some team is going to offer him $45+ million a year I would guess. Would the Vikings dive right back into paying big money for a QB?

[Aggies7]

9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I get it. I was adamant about sticking to the plan of McCarthy starting in 2025, but Darnold is making it difficult to move on. I would be open to a Baker Mayfield type extension 3/$75-90 million at this point. Some team is going to offer him $45+ million a year I would guess. Would the Vikings dive right back into paying big money for a QB?

The good thing is that McCarthy is only going to be 22 in January. The Vikings have time.

[nicksaviking]

I'd be torn for sure. I do think Darnold can be even better in year two, but I don't want to pay QB money either. This team can't develop cornerbacks or interior OL and I think if they want to continue to play well, they need to put their free agent dollars there.

Still, as good as he has been, I don't know that he's a guy who can carry them to the top of the mountain. Maybe I'm wrong.

[Mike Sixel]

I'm conflicted. On the one hand, it's cousins all over again. Coming off a winning season, with good to great players and coaching. On the other, this time they might have an option.

They can't draft worth ****, so they need to spend FA money on IoL and CB....

I also am not a huge McCarthy guy....

Luckily for everyone, I don't need to decide.

[gunnarthor]

He's gone. He signed a one-year deal, hoping that he could parlay that into a good payday. He'll do that. Some team is going to pay him 5/50m+, especially if we have a deep playoff run. I don't think he'll get Mayfield money, I think he'll get more. But a lot of posters on here don't think Mayfield can win a Super Bowl so why would we want that?

We have cap space - finally - and extended Jefferson understanding that our QB would be, relatively, cheap. I don't think the team will change that plan. Keep McCarthy, fix the interior o-line. I also think that part of the Vikings brain trust thinks that McCarthy is their guy. He was a top 10 pick for a reason. Remember, there was a lot of smoke about the Vikings wanting him prior to the draft and our connections to the Michigan staff. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, gunnarthor said:

He's gone. He signed a one-year deal, hoping that he could parlay that into a good payday. He'll do that. Some team is going to pay him 5/50m+, especially if we have a deep playoff run. I don't think he'll get Mayfield money, I think he'll get more. But a lot of posters on here don't think Mayfield can win a Super Bowl so why would we want that?

We have cap space - finally - and extended Jefferson understanding that our QB would be, relatively, cheap. I don't think the team will change that plan. Keep McCarthy, fix the interior o-line. I also think that part of the Vikings brain trust thinks that McCarthy is their guy. He was a top 10 pick for a reason. Remember, there was a lot of smoke about the Vikings wanting him prior to the draft and our connections to the Michigan staff. 

I agree with all this in terms of what they are thinking

[gunnarthor]

I will say that I think there could be one way they keep him - if Jefferson goes to the mat for him, the Vikings could blink. Then they'd probably keep McCarthy for a bit to increase his trade value but I don't think they can have Darnold on a long contract and a top 10 pick sitting on the bench behind him.

But Darnold has a cannon. I think his receivers like that.

[TheLeviathan]

So...out of curiosity, who do we think is giving him some 3 year/150M contract?

I ask because I think there is a chance you might convince him to give you a 1 year 30M contract to stay around and give McCarthy a healthy season to learn before he takes over.

Other than that scenario....I trust KOC and would prefer to roll with the rookie and our 80M in cap room to give him a new center and more defensive weapons.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Dumb question but slightly relevant: does Daniel Jones have trade value? (also does Parker Romo have trade value) 

[Mike Sixel]

21 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Dumb question but slightly relevant: does Daniel Jones have trade value? (also does Parker Romo have trade value) 

trade deadline is passed for this year....

[Mike Sixel]

30 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

So...out of curiosity, who do we think is giving him some 3 year/150M contract?

I ask because I think there is a chance you might convince him to give you a 1 year 30M contract to stay around and give McCarthy a healthy season to learn before he takes over.

Other than that scenario....I trust KOC and would prefer to roll with the rookie and our 80M in cap room to give him a new center and more defensive weapons.

Vegas? Rams (no, but still)? 

There are a few teams he won't go to, I'd guess (jets).

Pittsburgh (I think they'll re-up Wilson)?

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

So...out of curiosity, who do we think is giving him some 3 year/150M contract?

I ask because I think there is a chance you might convince him to give you a 1 year 30M contract to stay around and give McCarthy a healthy season to learn before he takes over.

Other than that scenario....I trust KOC and would prefer to roll with the rookie and our 80M in cap room to give him a new center and more defensive weapons.

We can eliminate the Jets and Panthers, he’s never going back there…

Best fit IMO is the Rams should they decide to move on from Stafford. Next best is returning back to either MN for another year, or the 49ers if they decide they don’t want to pay Purdy $60 million a year. Tennessee will probably offer big money but I don’t see the fit for him there. Cleveland is a wild card if they can find a way to void Watson’s contract. 

[gunnarthor]

7 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

We can eliminate the Jets and Panthers, he’s never going back there…

Best fit IMO is the Rams should they decide to move on from Stafford. Next best is returning back to either MN for another year, or the 49ers if they decide they don’t want to pay Purdy $60 million a year. Tennessee will probably offer big money but I don’t see the fit for him there. Cleveland is a wild card if they can find a way to void Watson’s contract. 

Agree that the Rams are the best fit for Darnold. Raiders will have a ton of cap space (over 100m). I wonder if the Colts want to move on from Richardson? They do have some talent on the roster. And the Giants will be looking, too. Not sure how teams view Saunders and Ward. 

[Aggies7]

Kinda feel like he’s only going to go to a contender. You don’t go from Minnesota to the giants.

[Mike Sixel]

13 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Kinda feel like he’s only going to go to a contender. You don’t go from Minnesota to the giants.

If Vegas offers him 3/150....you go there. Way more important than a 5% shot at winning.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

We can eliminate the Jets and Panthers, he’s never going back there…

Best fit IMO is the Rams should they decide to move on from Stafford. Next best is returning back to either MN for another year, or the 49ers if they decide they don’t want to pay Purdy $60 million a year. Tennessee will probably offer big money but I don’t see the fit for him there. Cleveland is a wild card if they can find a way to void Watson’s contract. 

I think that breakdown sorta illustrates my point...I'm not sure how much market there will actually be for him this year unless Stafford retires.  But if he doesn't....he's a bridge QB anywhere he signs.  If he waits for Stafford to retire however.....

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

If Vegas offers him 3/150....you go there. Way more important than a 5% shot at winning.

If all $150 million is guaranteed, maybe. He’s seen what toxic organizations do to players, and the Raiders are a mess. I would guess he’s hyper focused on going to a stable org/coaching staff to keep thriving on the field. 

[Aggies7]

Darnold doesn’t turn 28 until June. He’s still young. Lamar will be 28 in January. Mahomes will be 30 in September. Kirko had a good year for us last season at 36. Just something else to Ponder (sorry)

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

If all $150 million is guaranteed, maybe. He’s seen what toxic organizations do to players, and the Raiders are a mess. I would guess he’s hyper focused on going to a stable org/coaching staff to keep thriving on the field. 

Maybe? I'd play QB for Vegas for 150 million......

Other than the Rams, I don't see a stable staff to go to. 

[Aggies7]

I had darnold benched by the bye week this year 😂

[Cap'n Piranha]

Sam Darnold has career earnings of $65M, and won’t turn 28 until next June.  If he’s accepting a 3 year contract, it’s going to be someplace that will allow him to continue to be successful, and get another contract for his age 31 season, since he doesn’t need to break the bank now.

I think that Darnold would rather take a 3/$100M contract from the Vikings than 3/$150M from the Raiders, or Giants, or Titans, or any other team desperate for a QB.  The only question left is if KOC/Kwesi want to stake their future on Darnold instead of McCarthy (if given the option).

[Aggies7]

Another thing to consider:

if darnold wins a couple playoff games (big if) and the Vikings let him walk….the fans aren’t going to have a lot of patience with JJMc. You’re almost setting him up for a rough time. No young guy just comes in and dominates without bumps in the road.

[Aggies7]

Ugh Jameis just threw an awful pick 6. Brutal. Browns would love to have Sam if they didn’t make one of the worst qb signings ever a few years back.

[Aggies7]

5 TD passes for Darnold today.

I am now 100% on the “resign Darnold” train 

[gunnarthor]

Today is the first time I thought they might. But I still think it's unlikely. 

[Aggies7]

He’s now the 7th rated quarterback in the league. GMs won’t want to let that walk I wouldn’t think 

[Mike Sixel]

It would be very hard for me not to sign him if I was the GM 

[Vanimal46]

Darnold is making this decision more difficult every game. If he leads the team to the NFC Championship game idk how you can let him walk. Kwesi had a plan but plans change. At the very least he should get the franchise tag.