BREAKING: Vikings Cut Ties With Sam Darnold After Major QB Announcement
It’s becoming increasingly evident that Sam Darnold’s future with the Minnesota Vikings is uncertain.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on February 21, while the Vikings are open to re-signing Darnold, they are unwilling to offer him a significant contract. In other words, Minnesota is not prepared to match the higher offers he could receive in free agency or commit to him long-term as their franchise quarterback.
Fowler noted on SportsCenter that the Vikings won’t “mortgage their future” if Darnold lands a lucrative deal elsewhere. He also emphasized that J.J. McCarthy is viewed as the team’s eventual franchise quarterback—whether in six months, a year, or 18 months—though the exact timeline remains undecided. As a result, whoever starts this season will essentially serve as a bridge quarterback.
Vikings Unlikely to Use Franchise Tag to Keep or Trade Sam Darnold
If Sam Darnold hits free agency without restrictions, he’ll likely be the top quarterback available—a scenario that now seems highly probable.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked Darnold as the only quarterback in his “capable starter” tier for 2025, with no other signal-callers making his second tier of “Pro Bowl-caliber starters” or first tier of “franchise players.”
Jeremy Fowler reported that league sources doubt the Vikings will use the franchise tag to retain Darnold in 2025. Barnwell expanded on this, noting that while Minnesota has ample cap space, the $42.4 million franchise tag would limit their financial flexibility. If Darnold accepted the tag, the Vikings would likely have to start him in 2025, delaying J.J. McCarthy’s development and wasting another year of cost-effective production from their 2024 first-round pick.
Vikings Still Have Physical Concerns Regarding J.J. McCarthy
With Sam Darnold likely on his way out, J.J. McCarthy appears to be the Vikings’ quarterback of the future. However, it’s almost certain that Minnesota will add a veteran quarterback this offseason, and there’s still a chance that player could start ahead of McCarthy.
McCarthy missed his entire rookie season in 2024 after suffering a knee injury during his first preseason game in August. He underwent two surgeries to repair the issue but is now set to participate in offseason workouts.
Despite this, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Vikings still have some concerns about McCarthy’s physical readiness. He noted that McCarthy lost significant weight during his recovery, and regaining it will be a factor in Minnesota’s confidence in moving forward with him as their starter.