Veteran quarterback Sam Darnold is heading to the Minnesota Vikings on a new one-year deal for the 2024 NFL season, Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday morning. With Kirk Cousins inking a massive four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings opted to sign Darnold for one year, $10 million.
The move by the Vikings also reunites Darnold with his former teammate, Josh McCown, who is Minnesota’s new quarterbacks coach. Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick for the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft. Through his first six seasons in the league, he has a 59.7% passing rate, 12,064 passing yards with 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions.
The former USC star, now 26, played his first three seasons with the Jets. He then spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, racking up a 4-7 record in 2021, then 4-2 in 2022. He joined the San Francisco 49ers for 2023 on a one-year deal for $4.5 million. Darnold served as a backup QB to Brock Purdy during the 2023 season as the team made a run in the playoffs.
The Vikings have the No. 11 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. By adding Darnold, the team could be signaling their desire to take a young quarterback early in the draft.
Cousins signs for $180 million with Atlanta
The future of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is now set in stone following his season-ending injury last season. The former Vikings QB is reportedly signing with the Atlanta Falcons on a four-year deal, according to Mike McCartney. Cousins’ new contract will net him $180 million over four years with $100 million guaranteed and a $50 million signing bonus.
Cousins was in the midst of the eighth game in his sixth season for the Minnesota Vikings before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles injury during the fourth quarter that would put an unfortunate end to his 2023 season. But now he’ll look to bounce back with the Falcons.
More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency
The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.
In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.
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