Vikings need to invest in Sam Darnold

When the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year deal last March, it's unlikely anyone within the organization predicted what would eventually happen during the 2024 season. And now that Darnold is dangling out there on the open market as a free agent, he's becoming an attractive option for teams looking to upgrade at the position. 

But while shelling out big money for Darnold to be its franchise guy wasn't part of Minnesota's initial plans, it's exactly what it should do now. And it does sound like the Vikings are at least considering going all in on Darnold. 

"The Vikings have said that they'd like to bring him back, but that is not going to be cheap," reported ESPN's Adam Schefter on Sunday. "The franchise tag remains an option, and one team that I would watch with Sam Darnold moving forward would be the Las Vegas Raiders."

The internal debate about Darnold is obvious. Minnesota drafted J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick with the idea that he would be who they would build around for years to come. McCarthy ended up suffering a season-ending injury and missed his entire rookie year while Darnold led the Vikings to the playoffs.

Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, completed 66.2% of his passes and scored 36 total touchdowns, all career highs for the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

So now, even though McCarthy still sits there as an intriguing unknown, letting Darnold go could be something the Vikings would regret. 

At only 27, Darnold would be an investment into the future as well as the present. He's just now hitting his prime and has already shown he can flourish under head coach Kevin O'Connell, who recently agreed to a contact extension to stay in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. 

The fact that Darnold struggled in the midst of chaos and instability with the Jets and then had to bounce around in order to earn another opportunity doesn't mean he can't continue building on the success he finally enjoyed in 2024. If Geno Smith can find his groove in his 30s, Darnold can have a decade with more Pro Bowl seasons in front of him.

Minnesota should also be in a "win now" mentality. With an elite receiver like Justin Jefferson in the fold and an opportunistic defense, the Vikings should be trying to build on their playoff berth and reach greater heights in 2025. 

Why hand the offense over to something unproven when you have a proven commodity in the building? 

It's not easy to find a quarterback who can step in and be consistently productive. And unless McCarthy ends up being the next Jayden Daniels, letting Darnold walk away without making him a serious offer would be an unnecessary gamble.