After the 2023 season, the Minnesota Vikings parted manner with QB Kirk Cousins. He left in free company and signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Within the 2024 draft, Minnesota used the tenth choose to pick out QB J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan. Moreover, the crew signed veteran QB Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal for the 2024 season.
Sources across the league believed Darnold would begin the 12 months after which the crew would change to McCarthy. Nevertheless, the rookie suffered a season-ending knee harm within the pre-season. That pressured Sam Darnold right into a beginning position for your entire 2024 season. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 file however didn’t finish the 12 months on a excessive word. Now, Minnesota is left with a troublesome determination to make this offseason. Do they re-sign Darnold after his career-best season or do they hand the crew over to J.J. McCarthy?
Will Sam Darnold play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025?
“Minnesota goes to maneuver off Sam Darnold and go along with J.J. McCarthy”@colincowherd on the Vikings QB state of affairs after loss to Rams pic.twitter.com/62M5o7obwx
— The Quantity (@TheVolumeSports) January 14, 2025
In Week 17, the Vikings beat the Packers 27-25 and improved their file to 14-2. Minnesota had a Week 18 matchup on the highway vs. the Lions. That recreation was for the #1 seed within the NFC and to win the NFC South in 2024. The Vikings misplaced 31-9 to the Lions in Week 18 and Sam Darnold handed for simply 166 yards. As a crew the Vikings didn’t rating a landing and all 9 of their factors have been from discipline objectives. That gave the Vikings the #5 seed at 14-3 and a highway playoff recreation.
Darnold and the Vikings’ offense had a poor efficiency of their second straight recreation. Minnesota misplaced 27-9 to the Rams within the wildcard spherical. The veteran QB handed for one landing and had one interception, He additionally had a fumble misplaced that was scooped up by Los Angeles and returned for a landing. Darnold was sacked 9 instances on Monday evening. With two tough video games in a row, the Vikings might be left with a troublesome selection this offseason. Do they re-sign the QB that led them to 14 wins or do they hand the offense over to a younger QB in J.J. McCarthy? Head coach Kevin O’Connell might be a significant figuring out issue for what the Vikings do transferring ahead. Did Sam Darnold do sufficient to maintain his job or have been the final two weeks sufficient for Minnesota to maneuver on?