Breaking: HC Kevin O’Connell Confirms Vikings Closing In On Deal To Sign $18.9 million QB
In the wake of Kirk Cousins, the Minnesota Vikings are still figuring out their quarterback situation. During an interview with “The Insiders,” head coach Kevin O’Connell stated as much, even if he was all praise for the team’s signing of Sam Darnold via free agency.
On March 25, the Vikings head coach said to the panel, “We’re excited about the addition of Sam Darnold to our team.” “I’ve always been a Sam fan.
It’s been a while since I’ve known him. Having followed him through his entire college career and seeing him turn into a top draft choice after a thorough evaluation. In this league, we all go through a quarterback journey. However, it’s a process where you keep growing and learning, and at the end of the day, all you want is to be the greatest version of yourself and apply all you’ve learned to that role in the future.
“I believe Sam is in that stage of his career.
Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell Points to 49ers Coaches as Reason for Optimism About Sam Darnold
On March 22, Mike Jones of The Athletic wrote that the Vikings’ switch from Cousins to Darnold was a “downgrade.” The fact that Josh Dobbs of the San Francisco 49ers and Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons were deemed upgrades only made matters worse.
Jones brought out Darnold’s tendency to mishandle the ball.
According to the insider, Darnold struggled with it until the previous season. Additionally, last season’s Vikings quarterbacks struggled with turnovers. O’Connell, though, has faith in Darnold.
O’Connell remarked, “I think his best football is ahead of him because of how he’s handled the last couple years,” referencing Darnold’s performance last season as the quarterback for the 49ers under head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterbacks coach Brian Griese.
“You can tell that Kyle, Brian Griese, did a fantastic job in the following phase of his career when you play the tape of his work in San Francisco. Techniques and foundations are what you look at to see progress. I’m eager to start working with Sam because I believe we can continue where he left off from the previous year. Sam will be in a really, really good place, in my opinion.
Naturally, O’Connell wasn’t denying that the Vikings might have intentions to choose higher in the draft.
Vikings Entering an ‘Exciting Time’
It’s also an exciting moment for our organization to be looking ahead, perhaps selecting a player in this year’s draft or continuing to assemble a squad with a lot of excellent skill position players and some excellent foundation players.
“I’m thrilled with what [General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah] accomplished for us in free agency, particularly on the defensive end of the ball. And having Aaron Jones in your backfield never hurts, in my opinion as the offensive player. With a player like that, you can accomplish some truly amazing things with your offensive scheme. We are thus living in an interesting period.
Jones replaced the departing Alexander Mattison, who was cut and signed with the Los Angeles Raiders, with a one-year, $7 million contract in free agency from the rival Green Bay Packers.
Josh Jacobs, whose arrival in Green Bay facilitated Jones’ release, will be replaced by Mattison.
Still, O’Connell mentioned his beginnings as a “quarterback guy” once again. With free agency approaching, it has been the Vikings’ biggest question mark ever since Cousins suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8.
O’Connell remarked, “You know me, I’m a quarterback guy and I enjoy.” “I love the process of trying to identify the next generation of great players to enter this league year after year.”
Leave a Reply