NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Minnesota Vikings are rolling and a huge reason for their success has been the play of Sam Darnold. But his success comes at a cost. What will happen if they reach the playoffs? What does that mean for J.J. McCarthy and his wallet?
Darnold was supposed to be the bridge for the present and future of the Vikings QBs. McCarthy should have been the starter but an injury cost him that shit. No one expected Darnold to be lighting up the league while leading the Vikings to an early 3-0 start to the season. But what’s more impressive has been who they have beaten along the way.
The San Francisco 49ers were labeled as one of the top teams in the NFL. The Vikings got them. The Houston Texans were labeled as another top team in the NFL. The Vikings got them. And we don’t need to talk about the New York Giants. 3 up and 3 down and at the center of it all is Darnold.
But what happens if his stellar play continues? He’s on a one-year deal and will be a free agent after the season. If he leads the Vikings to the playoffs, do they just let him walk? Success at the QB is hard to find in this league and letting a veteran QB who just guided you to the playoffs go, well, that’s hard to do and would be pretty insane.
It’s not the same as what happened with the Cleveland Browns and Joe Flacco last season. The Browns paid a hefty ransom to get Deshaun Watson and at his age, Flacco was not a long-term solution. However, Darnold is just 27 years old and is knocking on the door of his prime seasons.
If he continues at this pace, and the way the QB market is set up for even averages QBs, the Vikings will have a tough decision to make. McCarthy never got to enjoy his rookie campaign but Darnold playing well, puts a pause on what should be his team next season.
The chemistry he has with the offense is undeniable and what’s more staggering is that the Vikings offense is not at full strength. Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson are out with injuries. When they return, we could see just how dynamic this Sam Darnold-led offense is.
This season, Darnold has thrown for 657 yards and 8 TDs with 2 interceptions. He’s completing 67.9 percent of his passes. Once again, when the offense gets healthy, expect that number to increase. He’s no longer forcing throws and showing a calmer presence that he’s never done before in any of his prior stops. This is a different Darnold.
Not too many teams are selecting a QB with a top-10 pick and electing him to sit a few seasons. This is not what the Vikings envisioned but this is their reality. What do you do with a veteran QB who is playing great football? Pay him or let him walk for a rookie?
This is not a knock on McCarthy, but Darnold has been in the trenches. If his stellar play continues and the Vikings make some noise, Darnold will get paid. All that will do is push McCarthy to the sidelines and truth is, unless there is a trade or something drastic happens, his career as a clipboard holder will last a few seasons.
It’s a great feel good story the same way it was when Baker Mayfelid was turned away by the Browns. He’s leading a resurgence in Tampa Bay and by the way things look now, Sam Darnold is dong the same with the Vikings. But it will come at a cost. Money and draft picks.
