Summary:
- The Minnesota Vikings are unlikely to use the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold.
- However, the team appears to be interested in re-signing him.
- Darnold had a career-best season under coach Kevin O’Connell, leading the Vikings to 14 wins and earning his first Pro Bowl nod.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is unlikely to receive the franchise tag before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, according to football league sources speaking with ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
While the Vikings are still keen on bringing Darnold back, they appear to be moving forward without utilizing the tag, sources indicated.
The 27-year-old born in Capistrano Beach, California, has been blooming under head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system last season, leading Minnesota to an impressive 14-win campaign.
The turnaround was impressive since he had only secured 21 wins across his previous six NFL seasons and was also among the league’s best, ranking him fifth in passing yards (4,319) and touchdown passes (35), and ultimately culminating in his first-ever Pro Bowl selection.
When Minnesota signed Sam Darnold in 2024, the move was meant to provide stability while the team developed their future franchise quarterback.
That rookie ended up being J.J. McCarthy, and the plan was for Darnold to hold down the position until McCarthy was fully prepared to take over.
Despite this, Darnold impressed during training camp, earning the Week 1 starting job outright.
He became even more impoprtant for the team when McCarthy’s devastating knee injury suffered during the preseason opener forced him to abruptly exit the remainder of the year.
However, Darnold’s season ended on a sour note. In his final two games, he struggled significantly, misfiring on 23 throws and taking 11 sacks.
These difficulties contributed to back-to-back losses against the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams during the playoffs, with a mixed score of 58-18.
Darnold was initially selected third overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Ever since, his career has been a journey across multiple franchises, spending three years with the New York Jets, two with the Carolina Panthers, and one entire season as the San Francisco 49ers’ backup before landing in Minnesota.
This stint with the Vikings was widely seen as a make-or-break moment for his career as a starting quarterback in the league.
Across his seven seasons in the NFL, Darnold has amassed 16,383 passing yards, 98 touchdowns, and 68 interceptions.
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