The Minnesota Vikings are facing a tricky situation at quarterback. Sam Darnold is playing at an MVP-caliber level, while J.J. McCarthy, their quarterback of the future, waits in the wings. But the big question is whether Darnold has a shot at returning as the starter in 2025.
CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones believes it’s a possibility. On the NFL on CBS pregame show, Jones shared that there is growing belief in the league that both the Vikings and Darnold want to continue their partnership after this season. They may take a similar approach to what the Green Bay Packers did with Jordan Love—keeping McCarthy on a development path while Darnold remains the starter for the time being.
“Darnold could likely secure a Baker Mayfield-type contract from multiple teams, but he’ll be selective about his options,” Jones said. “The Vikings have kept quiet about their plans beyond this season and are focused on the present. If Darnold stays, could McCarthy end up on the bench, similar to the situation with Love—something that wasn’t the plan last April?”
Vikings Face a Tough Decision on Sam Darnold’s Future
Darnold, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal last spring, has exceeded expectations. He currently ranks fourth in the NFL with a 104.9 passer rating and has thrown 29 touchdowns, contributing to the Vikings’ impressive 12-2 record. As the team heads into a critical game against the Seattle Seahawks, they’re in the hunt for home-field advantage in the playoffs for the first time since 1998.
But Darnold’s success creates a dilemma for the Vikings. He’s earned a significant payday, with Over The Cap valuing him at $34.5 million this season. Spotrac projects he could command a four-year, $140.5 million deal in free agency.
Darnold’s strong performance has some, including former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, suggesting the team offer him a contract similar to the one Baker Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—three years, $100 million.
The Vikings have $76.4 million in cap space for the 2025 season, but they also have several key free-agent decisions to make, including cornerback Byron Murphy, running back Aaron Jones, and safety Cam Bynum. They also need to address the interior offensive line and defensive line, which could make it difficult to allocate significant funds to retain Darnold.
The decision mirrors the situation the Vikings faced with Kirk Cousins last year. The team wanted to keep Cousins as a bridge to the quarterback of the future. However, when Cousins was offered a four-year, $180 million deal by the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, the Vikings’ plans became complicated. That deal hasn’t worked out for the Falcons, who recently benched Cousins and plan to release him in 2025. The Vikings could face a similar dilemma if McCarthy surpasses Darnold as the starter at some point during the 2025 season.
This strategy has yielded mixed results for the Green Bay Packers as well. They’ve committed to Jordan Love as their starter but only had one year of his rookie contract before offering him a four-year, $220 million extension in 2024.
The Vikings’ decision regarding Darnold will be one of the most significant storylines of the offseason, with long-term implications for the team’s future direction.