Sam Darnold enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024, earning a Pro Bowl selection as he helped lead the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs. However, just shy of entering NFL free agency, the market for the veteran quarterback seems to be shrinking quickly.
Since the start of the offseason, NFL rumors have suggested that Darnold won’t receive the franchise tag from the Vikings. It’s a calculated gamble for a front office that would love to have Darnold back as an insurance policy with J.J. McCarthy recovery from season-ending knee surgery. However, a lot of dominoes needed to fall in the team’s favor for a return to happen.
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- Sam Darnold stats 2024 (ESPN): 4,319 passing yards, 35-12 TD-INT, 66.2% completion rate, 7.9 yards per attempt, 102.5 QB rating, 212 rushing yards, 1 TD
The first already fell during the NFL Combine. If the Los Angeles Rams traded Matthew Stafford to the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders, Darnold would’ve immediately been viewed as a strong option to take over as the Rams quarterback. Instead, Stafford agreed to a restructured deal with Los Angeles.
Even with the Rams off the board, that still leaves teams like the Raiders, Giants and Tennessee Titans. Las Vegas has been viewed as a top landing spot for the veteran quarterback, offering the supporting cast he needs to be successful. However, the franchise reportedly isn’t as high on the ideas as everyone else.
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According to Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the new-look Raiders front office is “not super high on Sam Darnold” and it’s a big part of the reason why they pursued Stafford so aggressively.
There are reportedly some within the organization who “prefer adding a proven veteran quarterback” as opposed to using a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a signal-caller. However, Raiders general manager John Spytek and co-owner Tom Brady are leading the decision on who will be the quarterback in 2025.
That’s noteworthy because there have been NFL rumors for months that Brady is fond of Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is increasingly likely to be available at the No. 6 pick. If Las Vegas decides to take that route, Darnold’s options dwindle even further and that could push his market down enough for the Vikings to re-sign him.
