Breaking: Vikings Agree Deal To Sign $90 Million Elite Quarterback

In 2024, the Minnesota Vikings are expected to be among the most exciting teams to follow. They made a major splash in free agency recently when they signed former rival running back Aaron Jones, who was cut after he refused to accept a pay reduction. The Vikings’ run offense, which finished the 2017 season as the fourth-worst in the NFL, would undoubtedly benefit from this decision.

This summer, the run game has [on paper] improved, but the passing game is now seriously doubtful. Kirk Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback, joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency, depriving the Vikings of a reliable starting quarterback. Even though Sam Darold was signed later, his NFL career has left a lot to be desired.

The Minnesota Vikings Cannot Rely on Sam Darnold to Carry the Offense in 2024

Once upon a time, Sam Darnold was thought to be among the NFL’s next-best quarterbacks. When the former USC star was selected by the New York Jets with the third overall choice in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, they clearly felt that way.

But Darnold fell short of the expectations. He totaled 2,865 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, a 57.7% completion rate, and a 77.6 passer rating in 13 starts as a rookie. With 13 games played in 2019, Darnold’s season statistics showed some improvement: 3,024 yards, 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and an 84.3 passer rating with a 61.9% completion rate.

Regretfully, his career began to decline in 2020. Darnold had a 72.7 passer rating, 2,208 passing yards, nine touchdowns, eleven interceptions, and a 59.6% completion rate in 12 starts that season. The Jets made the decision to let him go after that season and moved him to the Carolina Panthers.

Neither Darnold’s first nor his second season in New York were better than the other. In 12 games (11 starts), he finished with a 58.6% completion percentage, nine touchdowns, thirteen interceptions, and a 71.9 passer rating. With the Panthers in 2022, Darnold made just six starts. In 2023, he signed a contract to support Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers.

PFF Encourages the Minnesota Vikings to Trade Up to Take Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft

The Houston Texans traded their 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Vikings last week. The Vikings sent a 2024 sixth round pick (188 overall), a 2025 second round pick, and the 42nd overall (second round) pick from this year’s draft in exchange. In the exchange, they also acquired a seventh-round pick in 2024.

The Vikings will receive overall first round selections 11 and 23 in this year’s deal.Some believe the team will select a quarterback in the second round, such as JJ McCarthy, specifically with the 11th round pick. Some, like Trevor Sikkema of PFF, think the team should package the two picks in order to advance and take Drake Maye of UNC:

“With Kirk Cousins signing a big deal with the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings will be looking for their next franchise quarterback – with all due respect to Sam Darnold on a one-year deal. Currently picking at No. 11, they are well outside Drake Maye‘s range. However, after recently acquiring the No. 23 pick, they seem to be eyeing a trade-up. Maye’s arm talent is ideal to invest in.”

The question is whether Minnesota can persuade a team like the Washington Commanders (who own the second overall pick) or the New England Patriots (who own the third overall pick) to hold off on drafting their own quarterback, even though Maye would undoubtedly be a perfect fit to pair with wide receiver Justin Jefferson. However, it might only take two first-round selections to complete a deal.