Analyst links Vikings' Sam Darnold with shocking AFC team

As of Friday morning, there was no sign that the Minnesota Vikings would use the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold before Tuesday's deadline. Thus, Darnold could begin speaking with other teams when the free-agent negotiating window opens on March 10 unless he signs a deal with the Vikings before then. 

For a piece published Friday morning, ESPN's Aaron Schatz shockingly predicted that Darnold will rejoin the New York Jets sometime next month.

"The idea seems ridiculous," Schatz wrote. "Darnold going back to the Jets — the organization that nearly destroyed his career? But the difficulty with placing Darnold on a new team is that you want to match him with a franchise where the offensive coordinator will run an offense similar to what Kevin O'Connell had for him in Minnesota. ...Jets coordinator Tanner Engstrand seems like a good match because of the way the Lions used under-center play-action when Engstrand was [Detroit's passing game coordinator under former Lions OC Ben Johnson.] The Vikings had the quarterback under center 34% of the time this past season, while the Lions were at 36%."

The Jets need a new QB1 after they informed Aaron Rodgers he won't be welcomed back for another season, and Darnold is set to become the top signal-caller in free agency. Of course, outsiders don't know if Darnold would welcome a return to the New York/New Jersey market after he famously saw "ghosts" during his Jets tenure that ran from the 2018 draft until he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in April 2021. 

Some have recently linked Darnold with the New York Giants. If Darnold is open to playing home games at MetLife Stadium again, perhaps he'd consider signing with the Jets since the regime that "nearly destroyed his career" is no longer associated with the franchise. 

It's also worth noting that Darnold may not have many ideal landing spots available to him this offseason. Reports have indicated the Pittsburgh Steelers would run it back with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson rather than meet Darnold's asking price. Perhaps the Las Vegas Raiders could pivot to Darnold if they strike out in pursuing Los Angeles Rams starter Matthew Stafford. Still, the Raiders could take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders as the sixth overall pick in the 2025 draft. 

If nothing else, a Darnold-Jets reunion would make for one of the more fascinating stories of the NFL offseason.