Vikings' future at quarterback continues to look clear, nearly made a different decision in March
The Minnesota Vikings have made multiple decisions at the quarterback position over the last few months. Back in March, they decided to move on from longtime starting quarterback Kirk Cousins who signed with the Atlanta Falcons and chose Sam Darnold with a one-year, $10 million contract. They also selected a quarterback at 10th overall in […]
The Minnesota Vikings have made multiple decisions at the quarterback position over the last few months.
Back in March, they decided to move on from longtime starting quarterback Kirk Cousins who signed with the Atlanta Falcons and chose Sam Darnold with a one-year, $10 million contract. They also selected a quarterback at 10th overall in J.J. McCarthy to be the future of the franchise.
The Vikings were looking at Matthew Stafford
With the Vikings needing a starting quarterback, they were keeping their options open during the offseason. That included, according to The Athletic's Diana Russini, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Minnesota weighed other options. It had monitored Matthew Stafford’s difficult contract negotiation with the Rams (O’Connell was Stafford’s offensive coordinator during the Super Bowl season in LA), but Sam Darnold emerged as their first choice. One day after Cousins left for the Falcons, Minnesota agreed to a one-year deal with Darnold.
That was something that many had opined about during the season because of head coach Kevin O'Connell's ties to Stafford from their 2021 season together with the Rams where they won the Super Bowl.
Getting Stafford would have been a huge move with the idea to win right now, but that wasn't in the cards.
Vikings have yet to talk about a contract extension with Sam Darnold
Darnold has been incredible this season for the Vikings and would be Comeback Player of the Year if they didn't change the rules over the offseason. There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not they should extend Darnold.
As of Sunday, the Vikings haven't had any discussions regarding a long term contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, who mentions O'Connell saying they had that guy in the building.
Before McCarthy's injury, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell said in August that the rookie had done enough in training camp to demonstrate that "we've got our young franchise quarterback, I believe, in the building." McCarthy underwent a second surgery on his right knee in November and remains on track to return for the 2025 season.
This could be one of two things: the Vikings don't want to have a discussion with Darnold during the season or they don't have interest in extending him. Which one is it? Probably some in both columns.
Time will tell on how the Vikings want to handle Darnold, but their belief in McCarthy is real and he's a near-certainty to be the future.
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