Will the Vikings re-sign Sam Darnold? NFL released key dates that will impact quarterback decision

The entire National Football League media has been discussing the Minnesota Vikings, not for their 14-2 record, but rather what they will be doing at quarterback. The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy at 10th overall in April's NFL Draft with the idea that he will become the franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, McCarthy tore his meniscus in the […]

Tyler Forness NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 29, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes against Green Bay Packers in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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The entire National Football League media has been discussing the Minnesota Vikings, not for their 14-2 record, but rather what they will be doing at quarterback.

The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy at 10th overall in April's NFL Draft with the idea that he will become the franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, McCarthy tore his meniscus in the first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and missed the entire season.

That left the door open for Sam Darnold, who was supposed to be a bridge guy until McCarthy was ready. Well, he hasn't just been great, but made the Pro Bowl Games and vaulted himself into the Most Valuable Player conversation.

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Deadlines for Vikings quarterback decision are set

The Vikings don't have a ton of time to make a decision on whether or not they will keep Darnold in 2025 or not. On Thursday, the NFL released important dates for the 2025 league year and they will be a factor in how the Vikings handle the quarterback situation.

  • February 18th: Teams can start using the franchise or transition tag on players
  • March 4th: Final day to franchise or transition tag players
  • March 10th: Legal tampering period begins
  • March 12th: New league year begins/Unrestricted free agents can sign with their new teams

These will be important landmarks for the Vikings, as they try to make a decision on which player they will decide is going to lead the team into the future. Right now, there is no real indication which path the Vikings will choose. Everyone has their opinions, but it's a very complicated situation that's made more so over the last few weeks.

Time will tell what the Vikings will do, and now we have the timeline for the decision.