Vikings QB Purgatory: Watching the Ones We Missed

[IceRatz16]

It’s been reported the Vikings wanted Drake Maye in the '24 draft and couldn’t get there.



They helped revitalize Sam Darnold’s career in '25… then watched him cash in and head to Seattle.



The worst-case scenario has played out; Vikings fans end up watching two quarterbacks they were directly tied to over the last two years playing in the Super Bowl, while we’re once again on the outside looking in.



That’s the part that’s maddening.  Not that there's a plan, but that the pain doesn’t stop while the plan develops.  We get to watch the “what ifs” cash in elsewhere while we’re told to be patient again.



I still believe McCarthy can be the guy, and if he is, all of this angst fades fast.  But until then, this stretch is brutal as a fan.  Competitive enough to care, close enough to dream, and just far enough away to keep ripping the wound back open every January.



Maybe this is the bridge to getting it right.  It just doesn’t make the waiting any easier.

[MaroonBells]

Well we all saw this coming. I think Sticky posed the question a few weeks ago. "What if Darnold wins the Super Bowl?" I think everyone agreed that it's going to look REALLY bad for the Vikings. U.G.L.Y. But it is just a look, a perception—optics. 

The reality is that we couldn't have kept Darnold and we couldn't have drafted Maye. It was no secret; Maye was the QB we wanted most. We offered THREE 1sts to move up 8 spots and the Patriots declined. They were dead set on getting their QB. Should we have offered four 1sts? Can you imagine the uproar? We had people on this board ready to burn Eagan to the ground because we were even considering the three. 

And with Darnold, I would like someone to show me a realistic way we could have kept him. And by realistic, I don't mean matching Seattle's $105M offer, because like Daniel Jones, he still would've chosen the clear starting job in Seattle over the iffy one in Minnesota. 

The biggest mistake the Vikings made was not having the foresight to think Darnold might play well in this offense and sign him to a 2-year contract instead of one. He was cheap as hell, he should be an acceptable bridge, and at the very least an experienced backup for young JJ for a couple seasons, and who knows? He might just turn his career around and then we really have something. Why not bet some couch cushion money on that possibility? 

If we had signed him to a 2-year contract, like the 49ers did with Mac Jones, the purple world turns completely right side up.

[purplefaithful]

Thats certainly one way to look at it...And from my vantage point, it's not incorrect.

Kramer
Pepp
Johnson
Cousins

Everything else since Tarkenton has been a one year wonder, a bust or lost a limb.

It's whats held this franchise back for most of those decades since the 70's and the fanbase may not agree on those 4 either.

I'm still holding out hope for JJM, but that hope has been shaken (not stirred.)

[StickierBuns]

IMO, the reason the 2 year contract wasn’t wanted by either camp is because both sides knew Minnesota was drafting a QB in round 1.  I don’t think it was ever a consideration for either side.

Patience is required. Unfortunately, JJ missed SO many reps his rookie year because of the knee injury: couldn’t throw. Didn’t really get the all clear until early March. Then Jefferson was out with the hammy, no bond built. Then the O-line injuries. Then the accuracy struggles, the learning moments....development not only stunted, but pushed down the road. The fans felt deflated after the build up.

Old scars and purple PTSD has many shitting on everything. Regardless, patience once again is our only alternative. I still believe in McCarthy, he is the way to new territory for us as fans and the organization. JJ made big strides once KOC stopped getting on his ass about his mechanics. But this will be one of the longest, grumpiest and most pessimistic offseasons in recent memory. Until it isn't, hopefully. Remember: as bad as it looked at times, the Vikings only finished 2 games out of first place in the NFCN.

[Still Hurtn]

I expect big improvements from Kwesi this year.. he is now attending a Quality Learing Center 3 days a week.

[Vikergirl]

Hindsight is 20/20 but the team was going to move on. They drafted a qb. Whether or not he is the guy we don't know yet. But it is going to take time. I really hope he can settle in this off season and next season. Obviously they have to bring in a vet. They seriously need to improve the OL. And play calling needs more balance. Darnold is thriving because of his smarts and ability, OL, defense and balanced play calling. As far as Maye is concerned, they tried and it didn't happen, what else can you say about that

[MaroonBells]

IMO, the reason the 2 year contract wasn’t wanted by either camp is because both sides knew Minnesota was drafting a QB in round 1.  I don’t think it was ever a consideration for either side.

Patience is required. Unfortunately, JJ missed SO many reps his rookie year because of the knee injury: couldn’t throw. Didn’t really get the all clear until early March. Then Jefferson was out with the hammy, no bond built. Then the O-line injuries. Then the accuracy struggles, the learning moments....development not only stunted, but pushed down the road. The fans felt deflated after the build up.

Old scars and purple PTSD has many shitting on everything. Regardless, patience once again is our only alternative. I still believe in McCarthy, he is the way to new territory for us as fans and the organization. But this will be one of the longest, grumpiest and most pessimistic offseasons in recent memory. Until it isn't, hopefully. Remember: as bad as it looked at times, the Vikings only finished 2 games out of first place in the NFCN.

It's a good point that the Darnold side may not have wanted the two year deal.

[Greylock]

I expect big improvements from Kwesi this year.. he is now attending a Quality Learing Center 3 days a week.

Not sure if this is for real or not but Kwesi should be spending the time getting prepared for the Senior Bowl, combine and working with the scouts trying to identify players for the draft.

I never paid attention to JJ in college because I am not a Big Blue fan, but could the knee injury his first year have anything to do with his messed up mechanics?  Just asking since Kwesi won't take my call.

[Still Hurtn]

Not sure if this is for real or not but Kwesi should be spending the time getting prepared for the Senior Bowl, combine and working with the scouts trying to identify players for the draft.

I never paid attention to JJ in college because I am not a Big Blue fan, but could the knee injury his first year have anything to do with his messed up mechanics?  Just asking since Kwesi won't take my call.

Its a joke on current events going on in Minnesota.  Somali's apparently are running huge scams in Minnesota and other states. Claiming to be running daycares among other things. One place had a sign out front that said Quality Learing Center. With a misspelling of the word Learning to Learing. Im picking on Kwesi because someone has to receive my fan wrath.

[greediron]

IMO, the reason the 2 year contract wasn’t wanted by either camp is because both sides knew Minnesota was drafting a QB in round 1.  I don’t think it was ever a consideration for either side.

Patience is required. Unfortunately, JJ missed SO many reps his rookie year because of the knee injury: couldn’t throw. Didn’t really get the all clear until early March. Then Jefferson was out with the hammy, no bond built. Then the O-line injuries. Then the accuracy struggles, the learning moments....development not only stunted, but pushed down the road. The fans felt deflated after the build up.

Old scars and purple PTSD has many shitting on everything. Regardless, patience once again is our only alternative. I still believe in McCarthy, he is the way to new territory for us as fans and the organization. JJ made big strides once KOC stopped getting on his ass about his mechanics. But this will be one of the longest, grumpiest and most pessimistic offseasons in recent memory. Until it isn't, hopefully. Remember: as bad as it looked at times, the Vikings only finished 2 games out of first place in the NFCN.

And Darnold would have been trash with our o-line issues again this year.