With the 2025 NFL Scouting Mix simply across the nook, NFL free company is about to kick into excessive gear.
Whereas the league’s official authorized tampering interval doesn’t start till March 10, anybody who has made the journey to Indianapolis is aware of full properly that the unofficial begin to free company comes through the Mix, usually with discussions that happen late into the evening at Excessive Velocity, the bar on the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
One of many massive names to look at this free company cycle? Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold turned in a dream season for the Vikings, placing Minnesota on the cusp of the highest seed within the NFC.
Whereas Minnesota misplaced in Week 18, after which the next week within the Wild Card Spherical, Darnold’s spectacular season may put him in line for an enormous payday.
Nonetheless, whether or not that occurs in Minnesota stays to be seen, because the Vikings have 2024 first-round choose J.J. McCarthy ready within the wings.
In keeping with a brand new report from ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings are “open” to a brand new deal for Darnold, who performed on a one-year contract this previous season.
However the Vikings won’t “mortgage” their future for his companies.
“I’m informed the Minnesota Vikings are open to doing a cope with Sam Darnold,” began Fowler.
“Individuals I’ve talked to across the league imagine that the franchise tag will not be the likeliest path in Minnesota … that’s a excessive variety of round $40 million. So Minnesota’s stance appears to be that they’re not gonna mortgage the long run for Sam Darnold if he’s getting main financial institution with one other crew someplace else, they in all probability received’t mortgage their future in that regard, however they’re actually open to having him again. They cherished having him.”
Ought to Minnesota finally transfer on from Darnold, they do have choices on the roster behind him. The Vikings signed Daniel Jones to the follow squad halfway by means of the 2024 marketing campaign, and promoted him to the lively roster for the playoffs. Then there may be McCarthy, who missed all of his rookie season with a knee harm.
In keeping with Fowler McCarthy is the long run, however Jones does give the crew an choice for the current.
“What was made clear to me, although, is JJ McCarthy is the franchise quarterback in some unspecified time in the future, whether or not that’s six months or now, 12 months, 18 months, they haven’t made that agency dedication but, however he would be the man, so whoever steps on this 12 months is actually a bridge quarterback,” continued Fowler.
“Daniel Jones may make some sense. I’m informed that he’s nonetheless on the desk as an choice. He was within the constructing final 12 months. He could be a less expensive various to Sam Darnold.”
What the Vikings determine relating to Darnold stays to be seen, however we’ll preserve you up to date as all of the chatter emerges from Indianapolis over the subsequent week.
