The 2024 season for the Minnesota Vikings was a magical one in more ways than one. A season that started in tragedy with the passing of fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson ended in disappointing fashion with a blow-out loss in the first round of the playoffs. But in between those two events was a season most Vikings fans won’t forget.
The catalyst for that season was a journeyman quarterback that not many other than Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell had faith in: Sam Darnold. Darnold, a former third-overall pick with the New York Jets, had flamed out in his first three seasons with the Jets, so much so that he found himself a spot-starter and backup with the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers after.
But O’Connell saw something in Darnold that said he was the right man for the job this season, and his faith was rewarded in a big way. Darnold carried the torch for the Vikings all season and had, by far, the best season of his career in the process. And for those efforts, Darnold is in line to cash in big-time in this year’s free agency period. How much and who signs him are the big questions.
The 33rd Team’s NFL analyst Marcus Mosher thinks he has the answer to both those questions. In a recent column for the outlet, Mosher predicted a handful of “mega-contracts” for this year’s high-profile free agents. For Darnold, Mosher has him in line for a three-year deal for $120 million. An average annual value of $40 million per year.
That number may seem large on the surface, but in relation to other starting quarterbacks in the NFL, it’s a middle-of-the-road deal. Still, it’s a significant upgrade from the $10 million Darnold got for his career year with the Vikings in 2024.
Mosher identified three teams as potential fits for the teams likely to pony up that kind of cash for the breakout quarterback: the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans.
This year’s quarterback class is seen by many experts as a weak one, which likely increases the value of Darnold on the open market. However, with both the Raiders and Giants possessing high picks in this year’s NFL Draft, it may be the Titans who are best positioned to acquire Darnold’s services.
Darnold wouldn’t solve the Titans’ quarterback problems long-term, but much like he was in Minnesota, he can serve as a bridge to the next young quarterback the Titans deem their future.