Reporter gives reason Vikings may use franchise tag to retain Sam Darnold

Reporters and NFL analysts such as Ben Solak of ESPN have routinely linked Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold with the Las Vegas Raiders, in part because multiple insiders have said the Vikings won't retain Darnold's rights via the franchise tag before the March 4 deadline for such a move. 

For a piece published Thursday, The Athletic's Alec Lewis shared that "whether or not the franchise tag becomes an option" for the Vikings "depends on whether another team would be willing to trade for Darnold" this offseason. 

"First-year Raiders coach Pete Carroll may be a defensive coach but he has succeeded in supporting quarterbacks," Lewis explained. "Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly worked closely with [Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell] in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers. Darnold being familiar and confident in the support structure matters. Not to mention, Las Vegas has more salary cap space than any other quarterback-needy team."

O’Connell was an offensive assistant under Kelly back in 2016.

While the Raiders have an undeniable need at the sport's most important position, they also possess the sixth overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. In a mock draft posted on Feb. 3, ESPN's Matt Miller predicted that the Raiders could land Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at choice No. 6. Others believe Las Vegas would have to move up in the draft order to grab either Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward. 

"Minnesota could benefit if a team like the Raiders prefers to acquire Darnold before he hits the free-agent market," Lewis continued. "If Las Vegas believes a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers could vie for Darnold’s services — and it wanted to prevent the price from climbing further — it could acquire Darnold directly from the Vikings. ...Representatives from all 32 teams will attend the NFL Scouting Combine, providing the Vikings in-person avenues to gauge Darnold’s market."

Per Joe Clark of Steelers Depot, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Wednesday that she has a "hard time believing" Pittsburgh would pursue Darnold if he became available. However, the situation could change if the Steelers enter March without a legitimate starting quarterback under contract for at least 2025. 

For now, it sounds like the Vikings haven't slammed the door shut on tagging Darnold as 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy continues to recover from the full meniscus repair he needed this past summer. 

"Evaluating McCarthy’s progress on both fronts will be critical in Minnesota’s spring," Lewis added. "The more relevant conversation next week may apply to McCarthy’s weight. He weighed 202 pounds at Michigan, then 219 pounds last spring at the NFL Scouting Combine. The torn meniscus — and ensuing rehab — may have chiseled away at some of his size."