How good was Darnold?

[comet52]

The situation would be like other teams are offering Darnold 3 years $40, and we offer him 1 year $45M to run it back and really maximize his ability to get a better FA deal in 2026.

Who are the other teams? I find these scenarios tough to believe.

Everybody's favorite Rams scenario? Stafford's got 62 mil in cash coming over the next two seasons. If he can stand upright and say hello I doubt he walks away from that cash. The dead cap hit for the Rams if he retires is a higher number than that as well.

To me the list of teams that A) have cap space and B) need a qb is pretty short. Las Vegas, the Giants, maybe Tennessee but Levis is playing a little better lately and teams will tend to keep trying with a cheap rookie before they spend a lot on a vet. New Orleans could use a qb but they are 77 mil over the cap in 2025. He's not going back to the Jets even if Rodgers does us all a favor and gets off the stage.

And potential teams might draft a qb and then Sam is looking at a bridge contract. A team that is going to pay Sam the big dough must assume that it has the coaching, targets, and all around support system that is masking Sam's flaws as well as we are this year. Maybe San Fran would move off Purdy since Shanahan had him in the building last year. A longshot at best.

[hogjowlsjohnny]

This feasible?

Feasible or fantasy?
What happens when Darnold takes another team to the playoffs and The Vikings win 5 games with a rookie QB.
It may not happen, but if Darnold takes them to the playoffs and wins a game, you have to consider keeping him.
If Flores leaves and McCarthy busts, it wouldn't look very good.

[FLVike]

IMO I will say this; we haven't been to the Superbowl in 48 years and there is a line of QBs, including two in the Hall of Fame, that couldn't get us there. The QB that gets us to the Superbowl will be a hero and there is absolutely no way we are going to let him just walk away without trying our best to keep him.

[StickierBuns]

IMO I will say this; we haven't been to the Superbowl in 48 years and there is a line of QBs, including two in the Hall of Fame, that couldn't get us there. The QB that gets us to the Superbowl will be a hero and there is absolutely no way we are going to let him just walk away without trying our best to keep him.

Brother, I can tell you this 100%. If Sammy wins the Vikings the Superbowl this year, he won't be going anywhere!

[comet52]

Brother, I can tell you this 100%. If Sammy wins the Vikings the Superbowl this year, he won't be going anywhere!

That would be an interesting wager. What would you make the odds that they retain him off a SB win? Even? Less than even? 2-1 in favor, 3-1, 5-1? Curious.

[StickierBuns]

That would be an interesting wager.  What would you make the odds that they retain him off a SB win?  Even?  Less than even?  2-1 in favor, 3-1, 5-1?  Curious.

Odds are against Minnesota winning the SB, of course......yet not sure what kind of dumbshit would let the first QB in Viking's history to win a Superbowl, at 27 years old, athletic, great arm and a former #3 overall pick in the Draft, leave town. Listen, I crush on JJM but even I'm not that stupid.

[MaroonBells]

Feasible or fantasy?
What happens when Darnold takes another team to the playoffs and The Vikings win 5 games with a rookie QB.
It may not happen, but if Darnold takes them to the playoffs and wins a game, you have to consider keeping him.
If Flores leaves and McCarthy busts, it wouldn't look very good.

Sounds like a more reasonable benchmark than a Super Bowl victory. 

Still, I don't think it will come down to winning this game or that game, but more so how Darnold plays the remaining 5 games. At that point, there will likely be a calculation made by KAM and KOC putting JJM's knee, cap space and the opportunity to add several quality free agents on one side and the security of going into 2025 with a proven, and very valuable, tradable asset in Darnold on the other.

[purplefaithful]

And D. Dimes makes things messier...Or, maybe its just more options depending on how you want to internalize it.

I agree, they are going to see this play-out completely and make a call later. No need to rush anything.

Here's a thought I cant shake re: Darnold,  A big part of me thinks his success is traceable to the on-going mentoring from KOC/Staff, team culture and this surround.

I dont know if he is going to have the same success elsewhere tbh. Future buyers beware.

[StickierBuns]

I dont know if he is going to have the same success elsewhere tbh. Future buyers beware.

100% this. And teams will have trepidation. Will be interesting to watch it unfold.

[purplefaithful]

100% this. And teams will have trepidation. Will be interesting to watch it unfold.

And I guess there is no reason to believe those same factors wont propel a 21 year old JJM either. Lots of attributes with him to play with in the QB lab. 

So maybe the Vikings have some riches at QB as opposed to a problem that needs to be solved???