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Vikings QB Sam Darnold Gets Near-Historic News Following Pro Bowl Nod

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Dible | Last updated Jan 3, 2025 4:17 PM ET

Everything is coming up aces for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold as he prepares for a winner-take-all showdown against the Detroit Lions on "Sunday Night Football."

Darnold was serving as the backup to Brock Purdy just one year ago, who he watched carry the San Francisco 49ers to within one score of a Super Bowl title just 11 months ago. Now, after earning Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his seven-year NFL career, Darnold has a chance to capture the NFC North Division and the No. 1 playoff seed in the conference with a victory over Detroit at Ford Field on Jan. 5.

Should the Vikings win, they will earn a bye through Super Wildcard Weekend and the NFC's road to the Super Bowl will run through Minneapolis.

All of this would have been impossible without the 4,153 passing yards and 35 touchdowns (against just 12 interceptions) that Darnold has amassed on a better than 68% completion rate this season.

Darnold's excellence in 2024 has also accomplished a number of things for him personally, including the shedding of his long-held reputation as a draft bust (No. 3 overall pick of the New York Jets in 2018) and upping his annual market value 560% based on Spotrac's most recent projections.

Darnold signed a one-year deal worth $10 million to join the Vikings ahead of this season. Last week, Spotrac projected his worth at $35.4 million annually over a new four-year deal.

However, after besting the Green Bay Packers in Week 17, putting the Vikings on the brink first place in the conference and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl, Spotrac now projects Darnold's market value at $56 million annually over a new four-year contract ($224 million total).

That mark sets Darnold just $4 million per season behind the richest contract in NFL history, which belongs to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after he inked a four-year, $240 million extension ($60 million per year) ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Darnold won't necessarily get paid at that level this offseason, as Minnesota could franchise tag him for the 2025 season at a one-year cost of just over $40 million.

However, if Darnold makes it to unrestricted free agency in March without suffering a serious injury or precipitous downturn in play before then, he's in great position to sign a multiyear deal worth at least $200 million or more.

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

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