In 2024, Sam Darnold truly made his mark in the NFL, experiencing a standout season with the Minnesota Vikings. Joining the team on a one-year, $10 million contract, Darnold outperformed expectations in a big way.
Throughout the season, Darnold was the starting quarterback for all 17 games, leading the Vikings to a remarkable 14-3 record. Despite his exceptional performance, the team has decided not to apply the franchise tag to the 27-year-old quarterback. Instead, there’s optimism that both parties will hammer out a long-term agreement during the upcoming offseason.
### Vikings to Forgo Franchise Tag for Sam Darnold
NFL insider Adam Schefter tweeted that the Vikings are not planning to franchise-tag Darnold before the imminent deadline. Nonetheless, Minnesota remains very much interested in re-signing him, albeit without resorting to any tagging strategies.
When the 2024 season was kicking off, the Vikings had two quarterbacks in their lineup: seasoned veteran Sam Darnold and the promising rookie J.J. McCarthy, a first-round draft pick. Many commentators predicted Darnold would begin the season as the starter, eventually giving way to McCarthy. This plan, however, was derailed when McCarthy suffered a severe knee injury during the preseason, ruling him out for the entire season.
As a result, Sam Darnold assumed the starting role for the entire season—his first full-time starting role since 2021—and he didn’t disappoint. Throwing for a personal record of 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, he secured a place among the league’s top five in both categories, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance.
With such an impressive performance behind him, the Vikings find themselves facing a dilemma. Darnold was outstanding, but the team also sees a future in the young J.J. McCarthy. As Darnold approaches his 28th birthday, entering the prime of his career, questions linger: Will the Vikings let him test free agency after a stellar season? The decision hangs in the balance with free agency starting at 4:00 p.m. EST on March 12.
