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Raiders Get Good News About a Possible Sam Darnold Signing

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Mar 4, 2025 1:52 PM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders have been in the market to acquire a franchise quarterback for several seasons now but have failed to find the right fit. The team swung and missed on players like Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew, and even failed to pull off a trade for Matthew Stafford last week.

New general manager John Spytek has been working with head coach Pete Carroll and minority owner Tom Brady this offseason to find a reliable veteran quarterback on the free agent market and one viable option may become available soon. On Monday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Minnesota Vikings are not placing the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent on March 12.

As an unrestricted free agent, Darnold will have the opportunity to consult with any NFL team when the legal tampering period begins on March 10. He can sign a contract on March 12 when the league year starts, and several teams, including the Raiders, are expected to heavily pursue him as the top quarterback on the market.

While his asking price is not public knowledge, experts have predicted that he will command anywhere from $25 to $40 million annually on a multi-year contract. Las Vegas has the second-most cap space available in the league and desperately needs a quarterback, so they could make a deal with the 27-year-old.

Darnold was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and led the Vikings to a 14-3 record last season. He was also named to the Pro Bowl after a 35-touchdown, 4,319-yard campaign in 2024. He may not be one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, but he would be a massive upgrade over the players that the Raiders currently have under contract at the position.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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