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Sam Darnold Makes Decision On Future With Minnesota Vikings

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Sam Darnold has not yet decided where he'll be playing football next season, but he has crossed one team off his list of suitors.

Darnold had an incredible 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings, completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Although he struggled in the playoffs, he played well enough to boost his stock for free agency.

It was reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Darnold could receive a three-year, $100 million contract. That would put him on the same scale as Baker Mayfield.

So where will Darnold end up? According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Vikings are out of the running. Instead of entering another year of competition with J.J. McCarthy, the USC product has decided to focus on the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks have a clear opening at quarterback now that Geno Smith is off their roster.

"With the Geno Smith trade opening a spot in Seattle, Sam Darnold is not expected to return to the #Vikings, who are now focused on other options they’ve been pursuing in recent weeks, sources tell The Insiders," Pelissero wrote. "Those options include re-signing Daniel Jones, who is mulling multiple opportunities."

Losing Darnold has to sting just a tad for the Vikings, but at least they still have a potential-packed option in McCarthy. And besides, Justin Jefferson has already made it known he's not worried about who'll be throwing him the football.

"I didn't know who my quarterback was going to be [after last season], and I really didn't care," Jefferson said. "At the end of the day, I'll always say that I'm confident in myself to perform the same way I've been performing. But it's not my job to say who is going to be the quarterback or who do I want to be the quarterback. At the end of the day, they're going to figure it out, and whoever they decide to go with, we can work with that."

It's going to be an interesting offseason for the Vikings, that's for sure.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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