Pelissero: Most Logical is Darnold Staying in Minn

[MaroonBells]

It seems every so-called "insider" has a completely different take on this topic. 

Tom Pelissero:

"I would say on paper the most logical outcome of this is Sam Darnold still in Minnesota. JJ McCarthys missed his entire rookie season coming off knee surgery. They believe in him. They're not trading J.J. McCarthy. But there's no precedent for a guy missing an entire year of reps as a rookie and coming back and playing again like it hasn't happened," he said.

All I know is Sam Darnold played the best football of his career under Kevin O'Connell. The last two games notwithstanding it makes sense for Sam Darnold. All things equal to come back it makes sense for the Vikings to bring him back. They won 14 games with him. .... They also have the franchise tag at their disposal if they choose to use it," he added.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-exc...rnold-will

[purplefaithful]

What used to be complicated/complex is now simple (for me);

We saw Darnold's ceiling...Not enough for me.

And some team will hand him a big bag.

[MaroonBells]

What used to be complicated/complex is now simple (for me);

We saw Darnold's ceiling...Not enough for me.

And some team will hand him a big bag.

Oh his ceiling was enough. You can win a Super Bowl with a QB who plays like that. It was his floor that kept haunting us and eventually bit us in the ass.

[purplefaithful]

Oh his ceiling was enough. You can win a Super Bowl with a QB who plays like that. It was his floor that kept haunting us and eventually bit us in the ass.

Sure, that works for me too...

Either way, I'd rather role with JJM/Dimes and have more $$ to spend

[ArizonaViking]

Just me...I say franchise him, trade him and get the draft picks while they're hot.

[purplefaithful]

Just me...I say franchise him, trade him and get the draft picks while they're hot.

sure, if they have a tag/trade deal in place...Otherwise, too much risk at $40mm/season.

[AGRforever]

ArizonaVikingJust me...I say franchise him, trade him and get the draft picks while they're hot.

Would you give up draft capital and $45 million for Sam Darnold?

[MaroonBells]

Here's how I see our options. 

1. Extend Darnold two years at about $45M per. Trade him after year one for the moon (assuming he plays as well). Negatives: Probably cuts our 2025 cap space in half. Positives: security, hedge on JJM's injury and uncertainty, could parlay it into major draft capital in 2026.

2. Tag and trade Darnold. Won't get much, thinking day-two pick at best, because new team will have to pay him franchise money. Give the keys to JJM. Negatives: No comp pick in '26. Puts a lot of faith into, and a lot of pressure onto, a 1st year starter. Players don't like to be tagged. Positives: We keep all our cap money and can go crazy with it this offseason.

3. Let him walk to the highest bidder. Give the keys to JJM. Negatives: Puts a lot of faith into, and a lot of pressure onto, a 1st year starter. And getting nothing at all (save a comp) for a Pro Bowl QB in his prime (whom WE rebuilt) is a hard pill to swallow. Positives: We keep all our cap money and can go crazy with it this offseason. 3rd round comp pick in 2026.

[purplefaithful]

Here's how I see our options. 

1. Extend Darnold two years at about $45M per. Trade him after year one for the moon (assuming he plays as well). Negatives: Probably cuts our 2025 cap space in half. Positives: security, hedge on JJM's injury and uncertainty, could parlay it into major draft capital in 2026.

2. Tag and trade Darnold. Won't get much, thinking day-two pick at best, because new team will have to pay him franchise money. Give the keys to JJM. Negatives: No comp pick in '26. Puts a lot of faith into, and a lot of pressure onto, a 1st year starter. Players don't like to be tagged. Positives: We keep all our cap money and can go crazy with it this offseason.

3. Let him walk to the highest bidder. Give the keys to JJM. Negatives: Puts a lot of faith into, and a lot of pressure onto, a 1st year starter. And getting nothing at all (save a comp) for a Pro Bowl QB in his prime (whom WE rebuilt) is a hard pill to swallow. Positives: We keep all our cap money and can go crazy with it this offseason. 3rd round comp pick in 2026.

Yes, rook qb's can start, but I dont think you can just give the keys to JJM at this point. KOC was quoted as saying we have our franchise QB in house, but that was long ago. He's missed a whole year of reps. 

Dimes is the key to much of this - at least for my peace of mind while JJ gets his feet back under himself.

[JimmyinSD]

my question for those that think this is an easy thing....

close your eyes and pretend that SD just played 88% of an NFL regular season with pro bowl numbers, had a career year, and in spite of his resume the previous 5 (?) years in the league, looked like he may actually have a future..... but that missing 12% suggests that he was a product of his surroundings and that the same QB that got run out of NY, couldnt make it in QB starved NC, and wasnt worth retaining in SF with their SB ready roster with one of the only ? being QB, do you as a GM roll in the armored car and dump your load? Its been said over and over SD's last few weeks cost him 50+ million, but over how many years? IMO he went from a 35 million avg contract to a 15 mill deal over 3 years, so IMO if you can resign him to compete with JJM for 15 mill a year, ink it. if his agent wants to roll the dice without KOC, JJ, and Adison... good luck kid and thanks for the memories and the draft pick.