Vikings' Sam Darnold cracks the top 10 in CBS Sports' QB power rankings

In his seventh season in the NFL, Sam Darnold is rejuvenating a career many had written off as a lost cause. The revitalization is exemplified by the NFL quarterback power rankings released by CBS Sports on Wednesday, in which Darnold is rated the 10th best of the 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. 

Following a standout collegiate career with the USC Trojans, Darnold was the No. 3 overall selection of the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, after three disappointing seasons with the Jets in which the team went 13-25 in the games Darnold started, he was traded to the Carolina Panthers. In his first season with the Panthers, he threw more interceptions than touchdown passes, and in his second season, he was relegated to a backup role behind Baker Mayfield. Although he started the last six games of the Panthers' 2022 campaign, the team did not renew his contract, and he became a free agent. In 2023, Darnold signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Backing up Brock Purdy, Darnold saw limited action.

On March 13, 2024, after Kirk Cousins left the Minnesota Vikings to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, Darnold signed a one-year $10M deal with the Vikings. He has led the Vikings to a 3-0 start, throwing for 657 yards, eight touchdowns and only two interceptions.