I know that many fans feel like we have beaten the (who is the QB) horse to death already. Nah. We are just getting started IMO. There is a ton more wailing and gnashing of the teeth that we are capable of producing. Sounds like fun to me. I will say that it could be difficult for any veteran QB to get full support from the fans next year. If they have any bad outing or even some bad drives or interceptions, the fans will be clamoring for JJ McCarthy. I do not believe the veteran QBs want to be in that situation although I think money talks the most.
I am looking forward to the combine to see the actual measurements of the players. There are always some surprises.
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Minnesota Vikings News and Links
A look at the pros and cons of quarterback options for Vikings in 2025
The talk of the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings is who will take the first snap under center in 2025.
The Vikings could bring back last year’s starting quarterback, Sam Darnold, either by the franchise tag or a longer-term deal. They could roll with J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected with the No. 10 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft. They could sign a veteran, like Daniel Jones who was with their practice squad last season, to compete with McCarthy and be an insurance option. They could bring in a veteran — names like Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford have been floating as potential options for the Vikings. Who will they roll with next season, and what are the pros and cons of each option?
Sam Darnold
Pros
Darnold is coming off the best year of his career in his first season in Minnesota, posting the fifth-most passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) in the NFL in 2024. The Vikings know what they have in Darnold: a quarterback who knows Kevin O’Connell’s offense and can excel in the system. You have to want to run that back in 2025.
Darnold is still only 27 years old. There’s plenty more good football ahead of him.
Chemistry. Darnold spent an entire season building familiarity with Minnesota’s wide receivers, tight ends and running backs. They’d be able to hit the ground running with Darnold back under center next season.
Cons
Darnold’s price tag will go up significantly one way or another. It seems like most likely scenario for Darnold to return is the franchise tag, which would pay him $41 million for next season, a significant jump from the one-year, $10 million contract he played on last season. That would limit what the Vikings could spend on other positions of need in free agency, and there are certainly other holes to fill on the roster. Is the money best spent on Darnold?
Darnold had a fantastic season, but it was also something he hadn’t showed before in the NFL. And his struggles in the final two games of the year didn’t do a lot to instill confidence going forward. Would he be able to meet the moment in another go around? Did Darnold show something he can repeat, or was the 2024 season just a fluke? There’s no way of knowing any of that until Darnold takes the field again in 2025.
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J.J. McCarthy
Pros
McCarthy is on a rookie contract, and if the Vikings aren’t spending big on him, there’s tons of flexibility elsewhere.
O’Connell declared McCarthy the quarterback of the future last preseason. It’s clear the Vikings have belief in the young quarterback, who as an unknown, has limitless potential. Darnold’s 2024 season may have been his ceiling — McCarthy’s ceiling hasn’t even been explored yet. There’s reason to believe it could be much higher.
Cons
McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus, so if he takes over in 2025, it will be after a season of rehab instead of a season of practicing and learning under Darnold. It’s hard to tell if he’d be 100% ready coming off a lost year. And like with any first-year quarterback, there’s certain to be some growing pains with McCarthy taking the reins.
As a unknown, McCarthy has the potential for a higher ceiling than someone like Darnold, but there’s also the possibility he has a much lower floor. He’ll take the field eventually one way or another, but the reality for now is that he remains an unknown. Maybe McCarthy will be great, but you can also do a lot worse than Darnold.
Sam Darnold: Vikings open to contract extension, franchise tag not likely
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Vikings are not expected to place the franchise tag on Sam Darnold, but they are open to bringing him back
J.J. McCarthy’s readiness to replace Sam Darnold with Vikings questioned due to Michigan’s dominance
John Middlekauff of 3 and Out raised concerns about McCarthy’s ability to carry the Vikings’ offense, pointing out that he played in a dominant system at Michigan that didn’t require him to take over games.
You’re going to depend on a player who was on a dominant college football team. And he was not tasked with, ‘Hey, bro, this is going to be one of those games where the defense is playing like s—, and we’re going to need 35 points. And I know we got Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but you’re going to have to carry us. You’re going to have to make throws, blitzes, third-and-longs, stuff like that. Buckle up, buttercup.’
He’s never had to do that. And not saying that he can’t because he can learn to. But like, they’re going to come in next season with goals of… they were just competing to be the number one overall seed. And now it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re just cool with, what, winning nine games.’
Hell no. You have a team that is ready-made to just be competitive. And that’s a lot of pressure to put on a player who’s never started an NFL game.
During Michigan’s 15-0 national championship season, McCarthy posted a stellar 72.3% completion rate, throwing for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. However, in five games that season, Michigan’s running backs carried the load, including in the national title game against Washington, where McCarthy threw for just 140 yards while the backfield rushed for 303 yards.
These concerns loomed over McCarthy entering last year’s draft and remain relevant now, as his injury-riddled rookie season prevented him from gaining experience, even in a backup role.
The Vikings’ quarterback decision will be one of the most significant choices of the offseason, as it could shape not only the 2025 season but the long-term trajectory of the franchise.
Insider says Vikings are unlikely to ‘mortgage the future for Sam Darnold’
The Minnesota Vikings have until March 4 to use a franchise or transition tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, but the latest intel from a respected insider is that the franchise tag is unlikely and that Minnesota probably won’t invest big money to bring Darnold back.
“I’m told the Minnesota Vikings are open to doing a deal with Sam Darnold,” said Jeremy Fowler on ESPN Thursday. “People I’ve talked to around the league believe that the franchise tag is not the likeliest path that Minnesota would take. That’s a high number around $40 million. Minnesota’s stance seems to be that they’re not going to mortgage the future for Sam Darnold.
“If he’s getting major bank with another team somewhere else, they probably won’t mortgage their future in that regard. But they’re certainly open to having him back. They loved having him.”
“What was made clear to me though is J.J. McCarthy is the franchise QB at some point,” Fowler continued. “So whoever steps in this year is essentially a bridge quarterback. Daniel Jones could make some sense. I’m told that he is still on the table as an option. He was in the building last year. He would be a cheaper alternative to Sam Darnold.”
Raiders named best fit for Vikings free agent quarterback
Therefore, they may need to surf the free-agent market for their next quarterback. ESPN’s Matt Bowen listed the best fits for the top 50 free agents, and had the Raiders as the best fit for quarterback Sam Darnold:
“With the transition to coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, the Raiders could finally solve their QB issue in free agency by signing Darnold. Las Vegas was 30th in QBR in 2024 (40.4), and Darnold’s 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdown throws for the Vikings both ranked fifth in the league. And in Vegas, Kelly could scheme for Darnold’s arm talent, while also using his mobility to attack the edges,” Bowen wrote.
Insider Gives Update on Potential Raiders Trade For McCarthy
While most believe the Raiders will use the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft to secure their quarterback of the future, Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated explained another potential option for the Raiders to find their next quarterback: a trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
Carpenter explained that the source did not come from within the Raiders organization but from many people around the National Football League who were aware of the situation. The Raiders desperately need an upgrade at the quarterback position. McCarthy would give them a first-round talent while potentially allowing them to keep the No. 6 overall pick in this year’s draft.
“I am in no way implying that I got that from somebody within the Raiders organization, but multiple people around the league, even going back to the Super Bowl, told me they thought the Raiders would have interest in J.J. McCarthy,” Carpenter said.
“With Sam Darnold willing to take less money, or at least willing to take a deal favorable to Minnesota, if that opened the door, then I could absolutely see the Raiders making a trade for J.J McCarthy. He is a very good quarterback who, prior to an injury last year, demonstrated a lot of good skills. He was going to be the starter in Minnesota. A lot of people thought he would at least, going into the season.”
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Note: If Kwesi trade JJ for the #7 pick plus a 4th or 5th rounder heads would explode and I would love it. Not the trade part. Just the heads exploding part.
Vikings Warned Sam Darnold Move Would Spark Colossal Change
In his first year as general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah admitted that “you never want to go full Rams,” describing his preference to build a team sustainably that can have multiple runs at a championship.
However, 14-win seasons don’t happen often, and Sam Darnold was tantamount to that success.
The decision to re-sign Darnold or let him walk in free agency is the first domino to fall in the Viking’s roster-building equation moving forward. There’s reason to believe Minnesota could build a contender by pulling every lever to create immediate cap space to re-sign him and reload the roster for an all-in year.
But that would be a far cry from the original plan that centers around J.J. McCarthy.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano took inventory of the salary cap situation in Minnesota and outlined the enormity of going all-in with Darnold.
“The cap numbers for J.J. McCarthy over the next three years are roughly $5 million, $6 million and $7 million. That’s an absolute steal if he can be a starting NFL quarterback, which the Vikings obviously believed when they selected him 10th overall in last year’s draft,” Graziano wrote on Feb. 19.
“Franchising Darnold this year and again next year would cost about $40 million in 2025 and about $48 million in 2026. Signing him to a long-term contract would reduce those cap numbers, but even if Minnesota could get Darnold back on a three-year, $125 million contract (similar in structure to the deal Baker Mayfield got from the Bucs in March 2024, it’s still looking at a 2026 cap number around $28 million or so. And that’s a best-case scenario, considering Darnold probably will do better than that on the open market.”
Graziano noted that the Vikings’ structure of Justin Jefferson’s contract includes $39 million and $43.5 million cap hits in 2026 and 2027, respectively, as a foundational contract that begs for affordability elsewhere.
“The Vikings would be blowing up their plans not just for McCarthy but for their entire roster if they brought back Darnold. That isn’t to say they won’t or shouldn’t, after the season he just had, but it would be a seismic shift in their plans from just last summer.”
Craig Carton: Vikings should not give the ‘keys’ to J.J. McCarthy
FS1’s Craig Carton believes the Vikings should bring back Darnold. On “Breakfast Ball,” he shared why he’s hesitant about starting McCarthy next year. However, his reasoning for the decision is questionable.
Broncos Insider Taps Vikings S Camryn Bynum as a ‘Possible’ FA Target
9NEWS’ Mike Klis floated an intriguing veteran safety this week in Camryn Bynum, who spent the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
“The Broncos will explore picking up a starting safety in free agency,” Klis wrote. “Minnesota’s Camryn Bynum is among the possible candidates.”
Bynum, who turns 27 in July, has an estimated market value of $17.7 million annually, per Spotrac. That would be a massive contract and the fifth-highest annual average among all safeties.
Let’s look at where Bynum compares to other safeties who played at least 1,000 snaps last season in some Pro Football Focus’ metrics. There were 33 safeties who played 1,000 snaps, and Bynums’ defensive grade ranked 25th, with Jones third and Locke 32nd.
In PFF’s run defense grade, Bynum ranked 23rd, Locke 32nd, and Jones 17th. In coverage grade, Bynum was 21st, Jones third, and Locke 31st. Bynum is the most reliable tackler of the three, with a lower missed-tackle rate than Locke and Jones
The fly in the ointment is that Bynum was boom-or-bust in coverage, with four touchdowns allowed, three interceptions, and five passes broken up. Locke also relinquished four touchdowns in coverage but didn’t have any interceptions and only two pass break-ups. If the Broncos want to upgrade Locke, Bynum is an upgrade.
But is Bynum worth that $17.7M market value estimate?
The surface answer is no. Bynum is a good player, and he’s better than some of those PFF grades, but he isn’t $17.7 million annually good.
If Packers cut controversial cornerback, Vikings could make high-risk, high-reward move
There’s drama across the border and while it’s possible the Packers and Jaire Alexander can come to agreement on a contract, it seems more likely that Green Bay will cut the former All-Pro cornerback and let him become a free agent.
If that happens, Alexander could be added to the pool of talented cornerbacks the Minnesota Vikings could be swimming in as they search to restock a cornerback room that could lose Byron Murphy Jr., Stephon Gilmore, Shaq Griffin and Fabian Moreau to free agency.
Alexander could be cut with a pre-June 1 designation. If that happens, the Packers would save $6.8 million on his nearly $25 million cap hit, according to Over The Cap. It would still cost the Packers $18.1 million in dead money, but long-term commitments would be out the window.
If he’s cut, the Vikings could be a suitor. But any team interested in signing the 28-year-old might want to tread carefully. Alexander played in just seven games each of the last two seasons and was on the field for only four games in 2021.
When healthy, he was a Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second Team selection in both 2020 and 2022.
Best Free Agent Guard Fits for Vikings Depending on Budget
Dalton Risner is a free agent, but after the line gave up nine sacks in the playoffs his services might not be retained. Ed Ingram, who was replaced by Risner in Week 11, is a potential cut candidate. Blake Brandel held down left guard all year, but he struggled in his first season as a starter. As a unit, the offensive line ranked 27th in the league in pass blocking efficiency.
Top Shelf NFL Guard Free Agents for Vikings
The “Top Shelf” guys are a little pricey, but they are the most elite options on the market right now. The Minnesota Vikings have the seventh-highest cap space but might not want to spend it all on guards.
Trey Smith – $19.7M AAV
When thinking about top-of-the-line free agent guards this offseason, Trey Smith is the headliner. The 25-year-old sixth-round pick turned in the best year of his short career in 2024. He was elected to his first Pro Bowl and didn’t allow a sack the entire regular season. He was also a top-10 guard on PFF among those who played at least 16 games. You won’t find many other guys his age putting up those numbers.
Smith’s skill is the reason for his only downside: his contract. Spotrac projects a 4 year, $78.8 million deal in his future, with other experts saying he’ll garner $20 million or more per year.
Will Fries – $14.1M AAV
Fries was putting up elite numbers before fracturing his tibia in Week 5 and missing the rest of the season. He had a PFF grade of 86.9, which was fourth among his position. He’s started 27 games for the Colts over the past three seasons and is only 26, making his price tag higher than most.
The tibia fracture could lead to some hesitance in signing him. A typical tibia fracture takes four to six months to heal, which means Fries would be ready in time for training camp.
Smart Investment NFL Guard Free Agents for Vikings
Teven Jenkins – $10.3M AAV
The Bears may have given up the most sacks this season, but most of that did not fall on Jenkins. He ranked top 20 in both run and pass protection and will only be 27 years old in 2025. He moved from left tackle to guard early in his career, so he could bring some versatility if the line gets banged up.
Jenkins’ downside is that he hasn’t played a full season since entering the league in 2021. He maxed out at 14 games this past season while dealing with calf, ankle and knee injuries. In the past, he’s also dealt with hip, neck and rib injuries as well as a concussion.
To see how much Jenkins could be worth, look towards fellow 2021 second-round pick Sam Cosmi. The guard signed a four-year, $74 million extension with the Washington Commanders before last season. This means Jenkins’ price may be higher than Spotrac projects.
Mekhi Becton – $10.2M AAV
Perhaps the biggest guard in the free agent class at 6-foot-7, 363 pounds, Becton is coming off a career season. He helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX and helped Saquon Barkley lead the league in rushing. It was his first year in Philadelphia and his first year as a guard after spending four seasons at left tackle for the Jets.
Becton’s 75.2 PFF grade was 21st among all guards, so at 25 years old he’s a fairly solid option. It’s the highest grade of his career following lackluster seasons with the Jets, two of which he missed due to a knee injury. Maybe the move to guard was what he needed to maintain consistency, and maybe the Vikings can take advantage.
On Sale NFL Guard Free Agents for Minnesota Vikings
James Daniels – $7.8M AAV
Daniels is similar to Fries, as he was also putting up elite stats before an injury sidelined him for the season. In fact, Daniels’ 92.9 PFF grade was second among guards before he tore his Achilles in Week 4. He’s only 27 but has spent seven years as a starter, experience that will be fruitful if the Vikings end up starting the young J.J. McCarthy.
Evan Brown – $4.7M AAV
Brown’s had some inconsistency throughout his career, but that could be because he’s been on five teams in six years. Going undrafted in 2018, Brown came into the league as a center but started all 17 games at left guard with Arizona this season.
That resulted in him putting up his best PFF grade (65.9) since 2021, so maybe the move to guard was what he needed. Time will tell if he can maintain those numbers. The Cardinals offense didn’t jump off the page this season, but they were still second in yards per carry (5.3) and fifth in sacks allowed (30).
The Vikings are in a position where they don’t have to try and create cap space, but they could if they want to prioritize signing high-profile free agents. There are three players that could give the Vikings a significant amount of money to play with.
EDGE Jonathan Greenard
Cap Hit: $22,300,000
Base Salary: $18,390,000
Salary Cap Savings: $14,950,000
Greenard is on the second year of a four year, $76 million deal and he has two void years built into it. That helps the Vikings if they want to restructure the deal because they can maneuver across five seasons. The two biggest qualifications you need when it comes to restructures are:
Large amount to restructure
Plans to keep them long-term
An Offseason Plan
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Starting Cap Space
2025: $63,332,543
2026: $107,008,844
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Franchise tag Sam Darnold and trade him to Raiders for pick #68 and #209
Cut Ed Ingram (saves 3.325M)
Cut CJ Ham (saves 2.65M)
Harrison Smith Retires or Cut (costs 2.945M in 2025 & saves 4.2M in 2026)
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Extend Andrew Van Ginkel – 2 yr 28M (saves 4M)
Extend Josh Oliver – 3 yr 21M (saves 3M)
Extend Theo Jackson – 2 yr 6M (costs 2.16M)
Extend/Redo Brian O’Neill 2 yr 32M (saves 7M in 2025 & 2M in 2026)
Extend Byron Muphy – 3 yr 54M (costs 7.145M)
Extend Daniel Jones – 1 yr 14M (costs 11.16M in 2025 & 2M in 2026)
Extend Cam Akers – 1 yr 2M (costs 1.16M in 2026)
…
Sign Charvarius Ward (CB) – 3 yr 48M (costs 9.16M)
Sign Justin Reid (S) – 3 yr 52.5M (costs 8.66M)
Sign Osa Odighizuwa (DT) – 4 yr 104M (costs 6.33M)
Sign Patrick Mekari (OL) – 3 yr 28.5M (costs 8.16M)
…
Starting Cap Space
2025: $26,372,543
2026: $15,702,844
Yore Mock
Trades
Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders
Sent: Sam Darnold
Received: Round 3 Pick 4, Round 6 Pick 34
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Trade Partner: Washington Commanders
Sent: Round 1 Pick 24, Round 3 Pick 33
Received: Round 1 Pick 29, Round 3 Pick 15, Round 5 Pick 9
…
Trade Partner: New York Giants
Sent: Round 3 Pick 4, Round 5 Pick 9
Received: Round 3 Pick 1, Round 5 Pick 16
…
29: R1 P29 DL Walter Nolen – Ole Miss
65: R3 P1 G Jonah Savaiinaea – Arizona
79: R3 P15 RB Quinshon Judkins – Ohio State
138: R5 P1 DL J.J. Pegues – Ole Miss
153: R5 P16 LB Jeffrey Bassa – Oregon
159: R5 P22 CB/S Jordan Hancock – Ohio State
209: R6 P34 QB Tyler Shough – Louisville
236: R7 P21 WR Samuel Brown – Miami
UDFA
WR Efton Chism III – Eastern Washington
WR Daniel Jackson – Minnesota
RB Donovan Edwards – Michigan
TE C.J. Dippre – Alabama
C Cooper Mays – Tennessee
OT Logan Brown – Kansas
CB Justin Walley – Minnesota
CB Mac McWilliams – UCF
DL Warren Brinson – Georgia
LB Tyreem Powell – Rutgers
LB Greg Penn III – LSU
P James Burnip – Alabama
LS William Wagner – Michigan
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