What do you do in the offseason if you are the Vikings?
 

Sam Darnold has completely turned his career around in Minnesota. Yes, the Vikings have one of the best receiving corps and a good TE. But it's not like you could just plug in any QB and it will be great.

Sam Darnold signed a 1 year deal worth $10m is what google says. So he will be a free agent.

Should they use the franchise tag on him and try to trade him for a 1st? Or sign him to a contract and make him their starter since he played so well?

What to do with JJ McCarthy, if they go with Sam Darnold, since they drafted him so high? Sam Darnold wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for that injury.

It's a somewhat unusual situation and it's a Chiefs-less weekend so if you are the GM of the Vikings, what do you do?

I guess this becomes more of a question depending how their playoff run goes.

But he wouldn't be the first QB drafted by the Jets that was deemed a bust and did better somewhere else. Hard to count his time with the Panthers too, that team has been trash.

There's no way they can walk on Darnold.

The first and third options are really the same thing.

I think if I were MIN-GM I'd sign him to a 3 yr deal, very similar to the one Baker signed earlier this year (or the same deal Geno got two years ago) with the ability to get out of it early. That way I could ride the Darnold train while it lasted, and if the wheels came off next season, I could step away without killing my cap.

But I don't think I could just trade him in favor of an untried/unproven rookie QB after the season Darnold's had this year.

I think you've got to try to talk Darnold into an extremely reasonable contract and trade McCarthy for a 1st round pick.

Ultimately though the playoffs will decide their future. Going to depend how he performs in the playoffs.

I’d probably try to trade JJ and offer Sam a deal similar to Bakers.

Darnold or Die

Why trade McCarthy?

Just keep him, a la GB.

You sign him long term in my opinion unless you are sure that McCarthy is the future. Let’s not forget that Darnold was a very high pick who went to the tire fire that is the NYJ. Despite them doing everything in their power to ruin him he found an organization that can actually develop him and set him up for success.

Darnold is 27 years old. Not 37 years old like Aaron Rodgers was when they drafted Love.

Is Darnold your guy or not? If so, pay him, trade JJ and use the 1st rounder to build around Darnold. A stud 1st round running back would look pretty damn good with Jefferson, Addison and Hockenson.

Let’s see how he does in the playoffs first but if he shits his pants I would tag and trade. Go see if there is a stupid team out there willing to give up draft picks and give him $40-50 million/yr contract.

Trade their 2025 first round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Skyy Moore.

This is a good plan if you can make it happen. I think you tag him first just to get into a good spot for negotiating. Three years would be great.

The "let him play on the tag" thing for QBs seems like it usually ends with losing to free agency or signing a mega-deal. I don't really believe in McCarthy so I wouldn't be willing to do this.

Belize

From an outsider's perspective, it depends how far they go in the playoffs. If they make it to the SB you almost have to give Darnold another run. Anything less than that I'd say they go with JJ.

But O'Connell is a really good coach and he sees them both all the time, so I'm sure he knows which one has the higher ceiling.

Trade both for draft picks. Sign Aaron Rodgers. As the elders foretold.

I don't really think it is the QB that is good - it is the OConnell system. The guy looks to be the next big thing in coaching. You don't suddenly get elite at 27. Sure maybe he's improved but if you can make Darnold look like this maybe you can get McCarthy to look even better.

True.

There’s also the cap factor. If he thinks JJ can perform similarly, while under a rookie contract and you can get a 1 for Darnold…that option has to be on the table.

O'Connell looks like he could be Bud Grants love child.

I sign Darnold to a three or your year deal. JJ is cheap and I’ve already expended the draft capitol. If someone wants to acquire him Id listen. Darnold has performed better this season than Cousins or any QB is recent memory has in MN. I keep it going.

KOC is an excellent coach.

Regardless of what they do, Darnold looks incredible. He's 100% legit.

Haven't we proved multiple times over that you don't need to draft a stud RB in the first round(s)?

I just don't think they have to be in a hurry to trade McCarthy. They can give Darnold a Geno/Baker type deal that secures quality QB play for a season or two, and let McCarthy do a Montana/Young or Favre/Rodgers/Love type of deal.

Sure seems to be a bit of a resurgence at the running back position IMO. An elite talent at running back like a Saquon Barkley, Bijan Robinson etc to pair with Jefferson, Addison and Hockenson would be pretty damn ridiculous. Not saying there is that caliber of back in the draft. If I was a Vikings fan, I just don't think I'd want a 1st round draft pick sitting on the bench in prime Justin Jefferson years. Go after it!

Call Carl Peterson and get his advice.

Then do the exact opposite.

Peterson would be trying to sign Kirk Cousins this off season.

You go fishing. Duh.

I’m not a believer in McCarthy at all. You have to at least franchise Darnold and play him another year.

Carolina had a solid QB depth chart two years ago…

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GgAjba2a...jpg&name=large

Darnold is going to sign a Geno/Baker deal for a season???

Someone will gladly trade for him after this season and give him Kirk Cousins money, get out while the getting good. Now if he brings the Vikings their first Super Bowl THEN shit gets interesting.

Given the hell, Darnold has been through with prior teams I wonder if he will take a more reasonable contract to stay with Minnesota. I think that would be the smart thing to do. But everybody just seems to try to maximize the money.

Can you imagine winning 14 games and being the 5th seed.. insanity.

As crazy as it is, I do love how the NFL found a way to make your division matter.

Winning the NFC North is critically important for the Lions and Vikings. As it should be.

unless he wins them a sb this year, tag and potentially trade.

he's as good as he is because of the team around him and once paid will regress as the team worsens. we've seen this story play out time and time again with mediocre qbs.

If I was a Viking this off-season I would congratulate the Kansas City Chiefs for a 3 peat well done. I would then become a Chiefs fan and get a Chiefs tattoo like I have. :arrow:

Hard to dislike this guy. Seems the locker room really loves him.

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That's fine.

If/when he does you already have the future on roster that you're paying pennies to. Keep Darnold and don't give another team what may now be a winning QB.

He brings the Krispy kremes to the film review meeting on Monday

Depends on what Darnold will say yes to.

If you tag him and play it out then he has another year like he just had, he's going to ask for Prescott money because SOMEONE will give it to him.

But if you can get him to take a Baker deal this year, sure there's risk, but there's also a real chance he vastly outperforms that contract as Baker has.

If you could get him to sign for something like $35 mil/season for 5 seasons, there's a real chance that you'd have the best veteran QB contract in football. I think I'd probably chance it.

I say trade jj to the jets dump a a ron and deport him to belize

Darnold is a great example of how much coaching means to the position. His college tape was really good, the Jets were a dumpster fire, Carolina no better.

He goes to SF for a year and then to Minnesota and magically he's good. There is something to be said for being in a proper organization.

sign him to a 2-year deal, give him a year to play then trade him the year after.

Right? JJ is a bigger risk.



Also Darnold looks every bit the first round QB with promising tools now that he's out of the talent sap that is NY.

I'm not even sure you can get a first for JJ might as well keep him for a year or so and let him play well in backup situations to drive his price up.

If he wins a playoff game...comes back next year and does the same you have to keep him. He's 27 not 35.

I also think people forget if you lined them up just as prospects coming out of college, Darnold was a far superior prospect to McCarthy.

Yeah, and I LIKE JJ. But he is very much unproven and could easily prove that he was elevated by Harbaugh instead.


People need to rethink Darnold, even if he looks like Joshua Briscoe with an inflated cranium

I would trade him for Skyy Moore so he can be Patrick Mahomes back up. Once Andy Reid completes his transformation the Chiefs will trade him to the Cardinals for two firsts, after they send Kyler to new Orleans who sends Carr to Miami after Tuas brains leak out on the field.

And it’s not like Darnold is out here just dinking or dunking or being hidden. He’s making things happen and is far closer to pulling the team than he is to being pulled.

What complicates this for Minnesota is because of moves they made they have no picks next year..

They have a round 1 and 2 5's, that's it 3 picks.

God the Vikes / Lions game is going to be absolutely insane next week

I'm holding out for the "fly the team plane into a mountainside" option.

Guess you didn’t see how their deals were structured. Basically, the guaranteed $$$ gave TB option of releasing Baker after just one season, with a $30 million cap hit, or keeping him for a second season then cutting him instead of playing him for a third season. Genos iirc is similar.

They should tho he's having his career yesr like keenly did that 1 season

If they actually walked on him..if McCarthy is just some average QB then everyone gets fired.

Tag and trade.

I would question if McCarthy has the arm strength to actually take advantage of what Jefferson can do.

They already have the rookie locked up. He’s injured ad no guarantee.

I think they have to try to sign far old, but he’s not going to miss his chance to get paid here….sign him if they can and keep JJ for a year or two as backup plan.

It’s starting to look like K OC is where the money should go. Cousins struggled at a stop or two and became good under him…less good after he left. Darnold struggled in a couple of shitholes…and now he’s good.

There should be a club for QBs the jets ruined who did well other places or could have…

Idk guys. McCarthy showed a lot of flashes in preseason. Lot of big boy throws.

The Vikings were the best place for a rookie QB to go bc they have the most talent and a damn good coach.

I don’t think Darnold wants a 1 year tag. He’s earned his payday and this might be his only chance. I’d try to trade him bc the QB class next Spring sucks. But I don’t think they’re getting a haul for him.

These teams aren’t dumb. They know KOC is a great coach and they are only trading for Darnold and can’t get the best WR in football, a B+ OL, Addison, Hockenson and Nailor to come with him.

They might get like a 2nd and change due to having to pay the contract he wants. But they could corner these desperate teams and pit them against each other to try to get a 1st out of it.

I am intrigued by McCarthy. Kid looked so good in August.

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No, I didn't look those deals up, but I still don't see why Baker would take it. Baker is no longer a reclamation project. Why would he voluntarily take a one year deal?

Make the Vikings offer at least a three year deal, force the Viks to use the tag, or go to some team that will offer a long term deal.

Yeah smart money is sign him for 2 to 3 years. But i doubt his camp allows it. Draft another wr. Mentor jj then trade him at end.of his contract if you think jj has improved.

Trade Sam Darnold.

If O’Connell can make Darnold look this good, he can make JJ McCarthy look this good.

Trade Darnold. Load up around McCarthy, Jetta, and Addison and Hock.

If you’re Chris Ballard you have to trade for Darnold. You have a ready made roster that is just like the Vikings. You’re only missing the QB.

So did Steele

Who's their Jefferson and Addison?

There's no point keeping a QB on a first round rookie deal if you don't start him until his third year.

That’s the perfect sucker to hook, too. You need a Carl Peterson GM. Someone risk-averse AND desperate.

Agree. Sell high.

It’s not a 1-yr deal. It’s a 3-yr deal, but designed to allow the team to walk away from it relatively easily after each year.

And baker did sign it.

Cool thing is the AFC north plays the NFC north next year...should make getting KC getting HFA much easier.

keep darnold ideally onna 3 year deal w an out in year 3 and you give McCarthy the Love/Rodgers treatment

The only relevant question is, “Do we really believe Sam Darnold can win us a Super Bowl?”

To me, the answer is probably not. So, sell high. Tag and trade.

This discussion is premature.

Like Clay’s ejaculations.

If you really believe you have something with McCarthy, you should feel good about tagging and trading Darnold. If not, it's probably good to try to move forward with Darnold.

What about their defense that just gave up 45 points to the Giants?

If the Vikings are serious about winning you give Darnold the contract.

Worry about McCarthy later. Trade him even if it's for a later pick. Many other teams have made dumber moves than that, but is it stupid if MIN keeps winning with Darnold?

They should take advantage of McCarthy being on a rookie contract and try to keep Darnold on a short term deal.

Jordan Love sat for three years before starting… McCarthy can wait.

Not only this but is there going to be a QB to draft when they are up? I personally have never been sold on JJ. But maybe I am wrong . I would say they are really in a spot that it's best to stay with Darnold for now and hope that this isn't a one year thing

I'm with you. They should be able to sign Darnold to a somewhat reasonable contract. Which puts them in a really great spot at the most important position in pro sports.

Darnold is a bird in hand, McCarthy is two in the bush

You trade McCarthy and pray it doesn't burn you