According to reports, the Vikings have signed Sam Darnold after Kirk Cousins’ departure
How this will impact the team’s QB strategies is now a topic of discussion.
On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings bid farewell to long-time starting quarterback Kirk Cousins as he agreed to join the Atlanta Falcons. However, on Tuesday they swiftly secured a possible replacement in former San Francisco 49ers backup Sam Darnold by signing him to a one-year contract based on reports from NFL Media.
At the age of 26, Darnold’s contract has potential earnings of up to $10 million. He was initially selected as No.3 by the New York Jets in 2018 and comes with a credible history of starting experience across 56 games. Additionally, he shares an interpersonal relationship with Josh McCown – new quarterbacks coach for Vikings; they played together in the quarterback room during Darnold’s debut season at Jets.
The signing of Darnold raises questions about the Vikings’ future plans for their quarterback position following Cousins. As it currently stands, with his experience advantage, he is expected to assume the starting role. The possibility of bringing in Darnold had been speculated on as a backup plan should Cousins leave and, despite having already played for three teams after six NFL seasons at only 26 years old, he showed glimpses of brilliance when healthy – including an impressive record with seven touchdowns and a passer rating of 92.6 during his time playing for Carolina Panthers in 2022.
Despite recording a career rating of 78.3 and completion percentage of 58.9 in brief stints with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, Darnold was only able to secure a meager record of 17-32 as a starter. As for his future plans, he’s opted to play backup quarterback for Brock Purdy on the San Francisco49ers squad during their upcoming season set in2023.
It is probable that Darnold serves as the initial attempt by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to address a position necessitating multiple acquisitions. Despite reportedly earning up to $10 million, he would only make slightly less than new Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew’s average annual salary for backing up at a high-end level. In 2024 NFL Draft, the Vikings possess pick No.11 and could either choose not to act or potentially move upwards in pursuit of their future franchise QB.
Although expected, Cousins’ departure has allowed the Vikings to adopt a more forward-thinking approach towards their quarterback situation. Experience suggests that discovering an authentic franchise leader often entails engaging with several players through various routes over time.
