Sam Has To Mess The Bed

[FLVike]

In my opinion there is no need to extend him now and I would even wait until the end of January. But he doesn't need to win the Superbowl or MVP. If he gets us to the Superbowl he will end a 48 year drought that a line of QBs couldn't do, including two Hall of Famers, and Im not counting Cousins. So he will be, without a doubt, a hero. He will be one of only 3 Viking QBs to play in a Superbowl.

[Waterboy]

Exactly.  If you look at how the Vikings have managed their cap in recent years, they were setting themselves up for a window with a rookie QB.  We didn't move on from Cousins and his cap hit to draft a rookie QB and then re-sign another veteran QB to a multi-year deal eating up that future cap space and let our rookie QB languish on the bench.

Now maybe Darnold's play and JJ's injury changed that plan...  Maybe not.  I still think we thank Darnold for his time and let him go get paid by someone else after this season sans a Super Bowl win.  If JJ didn't look like a franchise guy before the injury, then I think the team would be more open to extending Darnold.  But Kevin was gushing over him and I think they want to get him ready to lead this team in 2025 and beyond.

 It didn't change the plan.  Unless Darnold takes us to the Super Bowl and possibly only if he wins it does he return.  KOC saw enough of JJ to know he's the real deal, and our entire financial structure is built around a rookie QB contract, not a good QB who costs a shitload of money.

[JimmyinSD]

 It didn't change the plan.  Unless Darnold takes us to the Super Bowl and possibly only if he wins it does he return.  KOC saw enough of JJ to know he's the real deal, and our entire financial structure is built around a rookie QB contract, not a good QB who costs a shitload of money.

LOL, whats a "shitload", nobody has said to offer him a deal that would reset the market or anything close, I think the only money thats been discussed would be in the low to mid 30s, and would have to include the teams ability to trade him if JJM takes the job. I dont think anybody is assuming it would be SDs job going forward just because he has a new deal with the Vikes, its simply not wanting to put all our eggs in one basket without a competent back up plan. Its not just the JJM that is part of the plan, its also includes a lot of talent that was signed around this window and if JJM is not to the level of where SD is currently then you are risking wasting years of other players until JJM is ready. We all liked what we saw and heard regarding JJM, but it would be pretty presumptuous to assume that he will be ready to take the reigns of a team that right now looks like it is poised for a big run.

[purplefaithful]

LOL, whats a "shitload", nobody has said to offer him a deal that would reset the market or anything close,  I think the only money thats been discussed would be in the low to mid 30s,  and would have to include the teams ability to trade him if JJM takes the job.  I dont think anybody is assuming it would be SDs job going forward just because he has a new deal with the Vikes,  its simply not wanting to put all our eggs in one basket without a competent back up plan.  Its not just the JJM that is part of the plan,  its also includes a lot of talent that was signed around this window and if JJM is not to the level of where SD is currently then you are risking wasting years of other players until JJM is ready.  We all liked what we saw and heard regarding JJM, but it would be pretty presumptuous to assume that he will be ready to take the reigns of a team that right now looks like it is poised for a big run.

IF Darnold (at wk 12, 13 or in the playoffs) looks elite, then I agree; you have to at least have that conversation with his agent. 

You have to. 

What is in the Vikings best interest is all that matters:
1). An elite SD for another 1 or 2 years? 
- Have an open competition in Spring vs JJM for starter? 

2). Or gambling on JJM and let an elite QB walk out the door? 

I agree (and have been preaching) it's presumptuous to assume JJM is ready to take the reigns of a potential SB contending team. Not after 1 pre-season game and a first year thats all about re-hab. Its not a normal redshirt year for a rook qb. 

But back to my original post in this thread, these are not issues that the staff/franchise should wrestle with in October. It's just too early. 

I'm just going to enjoy the present for now

[MaroonBells]

Exactly.  If you look at how the Vikings have managed their cap in recent years, they were setting themselves up for a window with a rookie QB.  We didn't move on from Cousins and his cap hit to draft a rookie QB and then re-sign another veteran QB to a multi-year deal eating up that future cap space and let our rookie QB languish on the bench.

Now maybe Darnold's play and JJ's injury changed that plan...  Maybe not.  I still think we thank Darnold for his time and let him go get paid by someone else after this season sans a Super Bowl win.  If JJ didn't look like a franchise guy before the injury, then I think the team would be more open to extending Darnold.  But Kevin was gushing over him and I think they want to get him ready to lead this team in 2025 and beyond.

That's a lot of faith to put into a guy who never took a snap in the regular season. Look, we all know KOC loves him. I think most of us are confident we have our franchise QB in JJ. I know I am. But what if we're wrong? It happens. What if he's Mitch Trubisky, who looked great his first preseason? I think good leadership has to factor that in.

I just don't think you mess around with the QB position. If he's still the leading MVP candidate in December and January, I think you have to have the extension conversation. You could have a lot of egg on your face if you let him walk to a team where he brings Wes Phillips with him to run a version of KOC's offense. And then McCarthy just isn't as sharp, or needs more time, or gets hurt again. He's still only 21 years old. And it's not like it's either/or. JJ is our future franchise QB no matter what happens. 

The money is the big complication. But I'm hearing $50M thrown around. He won't get that. Darnold, the Vikings and every team in the NFL knows a big part of his success is due to KOC and the team around him. Mayfield got $33M and I think Sam would get something similar. And that's something we should consider....if'n he continues playing like this.

[medaille]

LOL, whats a "shitload", nobody has said to offer him a deal that would reset the market or anything close,  I think the only money thats been discussed would be in the low to mid 30s,  and would have to include the teams ability to trade him if JJM takes the job.  I dont think anybody is assuming it would be SDs job going forward just because he has a new deal with the Vikes,  its simply not wanting to put all our eggs in one basket without a competent back up plan.  Its not just the JJM that is part of the plan,  its also includes a lot of talent that was signed around this window and if JJM is not to the level of where SD is currently then you are risking wasting years of other players until JJM is ready.  We all liked what we saw and heard regarding JJM, but it would be pretty presumptuous to assume that he will be ready to take the reigns of a team that right now looks like it is poised for a big run.

To me, that looks like an insulting contract to Darnold.  Why insult a guy who’s playing well and offer him a contract that he won’t accept?  If anything, wait until the end of the season and pay him what he's worth.  I think if Darnold waits until the end of the season, he’s probably getting the same contract that all the other guys (except Mayfield for some reason) have been getting.  He’ll be getting something in that Danny Dimes/Trevor Lawrence region.  If I was Darnold, I certainly wouldn’t accept any extension that could trade me somewhere.  I’d want full control over picking the team I went to.

I think the best chance that Darnold has for staying here is if JJM’s knee looks worse than better around league season start in march.  None of the good teams offered him a contract roughly what he’s worth and he doesn’t want to go to a bad team.  I could see him agreeing to another year for like $42ish in another prove it year.

[StickierBuns]

To me, that looks like an insulting contract to Darnold.  Why insult a guy who’s playing well and offer him a contract that he won’t accept?  If anything, wait until the end of the season and pay him what he's worth.  I think if Darnold waits until the end of the season, he’s probably getting the same contract that all the other guys (except Mayfield for some reason) have been getting.  He’ll be getting something in that Danny Dimes/Trevor Lawrence region.  If I was Darnold, I certainly wouldn’t accept any extension that could trade me somewhere.  I’d want full control over picking the team I went to.

I think the best chance that Darnold has for staying here is if JJM’s knee looks worse than better around league season start in march.  None of the good teams offered him a contract roughly what he’s worth and he doesn’t want to go to a bad team.  I could see him agreeing to another year for like $42ish in another prove it year.

Yep, Darnold will want control on who he signs with and to your point, why would he sign for less than $50 MM?? . That would put him 10th right now on the list of highest paid QBs. If he keeps playing like this all year, he'll have shown more than Jordan Love has who is currently tied for 2nd highest salary. He's not going to require a 'show me' year for $42 MM, lol.

Darnold is not resigning with Minnesota.....I know this is hard for some to grasp. It'll be a long, LONG shot I should say. Never say never I suppose.

[JimmyinSD]

well if we really wanted him to stay as the fallback plan for 2025 in case JJM cant go... there is the tag route, 42 mill gets a franchise tag, 36M would likely cover a transition tag. These are both 1 year deals that are out of his control which is why his camp would possibly be open to a 2 year extension at slightly less with more guaranteed, especially if you dont wait until the year is over.

everybody keeps gushing about KOCs system and play calling, I would imagine that there are GMs out there that are assuming a big part of SDs success is the system and his surrounding cast, and would maybe not be backing up the 50 mill bus as quick as some assume.

[StickierBuns]

well if we really wanted him to stay as the fallback plan for 2025 in case JJM cant go... there is the tag route,  42 mill gets a franchise tag,  36M would likely cover a transition tag.  These are both 1 year deals that are out of his control which is why his camp would possibly be open to a 2 year extension at slightly less with more guaranteed,  especially if you dont wait until the year is over.

everybody keeps gushing about KOCs system and play calling,  I would imagine that there are GMs out there that are assuming a big part of SDs success is the system and his surrounding cast, and would maybe not be backing up the 50 mill bus as quick as some assume.

And how many teams need a new QB for next year? Several. It just takes 2 teams to be interested in Darnold to jack up his yearly salary. No trade compensation, only a salary. No risk of drafting a guy. He's going to be attractive.

[JimmyinSD]

And how many teams need a new QB for next year? Several. It just takes 2 teams to be interested in Darnold to jack up his yearly salary. No trade compensation, only a salary. No risk of drafting a guy. He's going to be attractive.

Like I said, if the Vikings want him, the tag route is always a way to ensure a 1 year rental, or if Team SD want a little more they could take a 2 year extension with more guaranteed money, with the Vikings having outs, it doesnt need to mean that he cant have SOME veto power to a trade, but really its not like the Vikings are without cards in this game. Of course if he were to sign a monster deal elsewhere, that would maybe get us a compensatory pick, but I would suspect that would get negated by any free agent splashes we would be making, so I would feel better with SD on a tradeable deal, that way we would be more assured of compensation for when he leaves.