Report: Vikings to Pursue veteran QB Worth $53 Million Following Departure of Kirk Cousins.

Following Kirk Cousins’ deal with the Atlanta Falcons, it is imperative for the Minnesota Vikings to secure a new quarterback and Sam Darnold seems to be their prime target in free agency.

After Cousins’ hefty four-year deal worth $180 million was announced to bring him to Atlanta, Diana Russini of The Athletic stated that the Vikings will pursue Sam Darnold, who has attracted interest from other teams as well.

According to Darren Wolfson of KSTP, there is legitimate interest in Darnold and he ranks highly among potential veteran quarterbacks for the Vikings due to an article from The Athletic that linked him with Minnesota.

Darnold, who was picked third overall in 2018, previously played for the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. He eventually joined the San Francisco 49ers last year and secured his place as backup to starter Brock Purdy by defeating Trey Lance.

During his solitary start in San Francisco, Darnold threw 16 out of 26 passes successfully, resulting in a passing yardage of 189 and two touchdowns overall. He primarily played with the backups but unfortunately lost by just one point to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Next Baker Mayfield may very well be Sam Darnold.

Baker Mayfield would have been the perfect acquisition for the Vikings in free agency, but unfortunately he signed a $115 million three-year extension with Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 10.

After being traded by the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield experienced a topsy-turvy journey as he lost his starting position to Darnold at the Carolina Panthers and completed his 2022 campaign playing for the Rams. Nonetheless, Mayfield managed to bounce back with an impressive playoff run alongside the Buccaneers.

Mayfield’s stint under the tutelage of Sean McVay, a disciple of Shanahan, played an instrumental role in restoring his image. Ultimately it was Tampa Bay who gained from their leap of faith on Mayfield and emerged victorious.

With Darnold’s career not having provided him with a favorable starting situation, the Vikings aim to replicate his success as he is just 26 years old.

Darnold suffered a high-ankle sprain during the preseason while playing for Carolina, causing him to lose his starting position to Mayfield. However, he was given the opportunity to make his debut in Week 12 and led the Panthers towards victory against Denver Broncos with a score of 23-10. Following their bye week, Mayfield had asked for release from the team after recording only one win out of six games as starter before being replaced by Darnold.

Closing the season with a 4-2 record, Darnold showcased his skills by throwing seven touchdowns and only one interception. Additionally, he also scored two rushing touchdowns over five games. As a result of their confidence in Bryce Young, Carolina traded away both Darnold and Mayfield after trading up in last year’s draft.

Spending time with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan probably helped to boost the confidence of Darnold, a young quarterback seeking a starting position this offseason.

Even though Darnold has earned a whopping $53 million throughout his career, he opted for an economical one-year contract with the 49ers worth only $4.5 million annually after completing his rookie deal.

Multiple QB needs require the attention of Vikings.

With Cousins’ departure, the Vikings are confronted with their greatest challenge – determining who will take charge in 2024.

The Vikings are seeking a first-round quarterback for future development, requiring them to acquire a temporary bridge quarterback while the rookie undergoes a redshirt season.

One issue is that most experienced quarterbacks will demand a multi-year contract and assurance of being the starter. Considering the Vikings’ focus on their rookie’s development, they are more likely to entice unproven but determined quarterbacks looking for an opportunity to showcase their skills.

The upcoming season may bring turbulence due to the quarterback uncertainty, nonetheless this has been a planned maneuver by the Vikings following their leadership changeover with an overarching aspiration of clinching victory in a Super Bowl.