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

[Bump]

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?

[kccrow]

Well, I did say "If he completely shits his pants in the playoffs..." and that's exactly what he did. I'd venture that you just move on from Darnold at this point. It'd be nice if he had tag and trade value but I don't think a team would offer anything.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Chief Pagan

But joking aside, Purdy would be better, and I don't think SF should extend him.

Yeah, I wouldn't touch Purdy with a 10-foot pole. He's going to get paid way more than he's worth.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by kccrow

Well, I did say "If he completely shits his pants in the playoffs..." and that's exactly what he did. I'd venture that you just move on from Darnold at this point. It'd be nice if he had tag and trade value but I don't think a team would offer anything.

Yeah, I like Darnold well enough. Like seeing a guy battle his way back to relevance.

But when the answer to completely gutting you is 'zero coverage, full send' and you just absolutely melt down, you're not a starting QB.

It's been a really rough couple of weeks for Sam but it has to change the way Minnesota approaches the off-season.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Yeah, I wouldn't touch Purdy with a 10-foot pole. He's going to get paid way more than he's worth.

Yip.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Yeah, I wouldn't touch Purdy with a 10-foot pole. He's going to get paid way more than he's worth.

At least Purdy isn't going to get his shit pushed in by every single blitz you send at him.

I'm just floored by how poorly Darnold handled that the last 2 weeks. It was just spamming an easy button and he had no earthly idea what to do with it.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

At least Purdy isn't going to get his shit pushed in by every single blitz you send at him.

I'm just floored by how poorly Darnold handled that the last 2 weeks. It was just spamming an easy button and he had no earthly idea what to do with it.

Yeah Purdy is definitely superior to Darnold. That's not really the thing. He originally said he'd sign Purdy if he were the Vikings. I'm saying I wouldn't do that, either. Darnold is not a starting QB, obviously. But Purdy is one of those guys that's going to get a top QB contract but will never play up to it.

[smithandrew051]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

At least Purdy isn't going to get his shit pushed in by every single blitz you send at him.

I'm just floored by how poorly Darnold handled that the last 2 weeks. It was just spamming an easy button and he had no earthly idea what to do with it.

Long-term, this is for the best for Minnesota.

Had he performed admirably these last couple weeks and earned a payday, they would’ve regretted it.

He did them a favor.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by smithandrew051

Long-term, this is for the best for Minnesota.

Had he performed admirably these last couple weeks and earned a payday, they would’ve regretted it.

He did them a favor.

100%

They need to keep taking shots at QB while they play McCarthy.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

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.

I agree

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I agree

I don't think you can risk tagging him now. Unless you're willing to keep him (and by virtue of his contract, likely start him).

Because ultimately I think he'd probably get nearer $25 million on the open market, if that. So if you tag him, you're starting $15 million or so underwater on his market value.

Now maybe some team wants him as a short term stop gap but they aren't giving up a 2nd for that.

You might get a 3rd for him at this point with that tag attached. In the meantime, you have a massive cap hold as FA opens. Additionally, you have the risk that NOBODY wants him at that figure and you're stuck with that cap hit.

He was just too damn bad the last two weeks and in a way that's easily replicable. One game of inaccuracy is one thing. Consecutive playoff style games where the same thing absolutely destroyed him twice in a row and that thing isn't difficult to duplicate...that's just a disaster.

I don't think you tag him at this point. Let him walk, hope he signs a deal that nets you a comp pick at some point.

These last two weeks just couldn't have gone any worse for the Vikings.

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by notorious

Yip.

Hopefully the league is learning, don't pay mediocre.

[O.city]

Let him walk, tag and trade whatever.

We all talk about these things like they're gonna end up mattering, I guess to keep up occupied during down time but......the league is the same as it's always been.

The NFL is the have and the have nots. Do you have an elite level QB? If so, you'll atleast be in the divisional round basically every year. Maybe you hit a time when you have a stacked team around a game manager and a legit coach and you happen to hit a time in your conference when there's not other high level QB's (the current NFC) and you get a good little run.

All the mental masturbating we do to talk about this stuff when if you don't have Pat, or Josh Allen, or Burrow or Lamar or Matt Stafford....you're drawing dead. You know it. I know it.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Hopefully the league is learning, don't pay mediocre.

Honestly I'm not sure I agree. Not at QB anyway.

The difference between mediocre and bad at QB in the NFL can be a 5 game difference. It's MASSIVE. Just look at how much different the Panthers looked at the beginning of the season when Young was a mess to the 2nd half when he looked mediocre. They were suddenly a credible team.

Not good, but not a weekly embarrassment.

There IS a justification for paying mediocre.

But the worry is whether Darnold is actually mediocre at this point.

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Honestly I'm not sure I agree. Not at QB anyway.

The difference between mediocre and bad at QB in the NFL can be a 5 game difference. It's MASSIVE. Just look at how much different the Panthers looked at the beginning of the season when Young was a mess to the 2nd half when he looked mediocre. They were suddenly a credible team.

Not good, but not a weekly embarrassment.

There IS a justification for paying mediocre.

But the worry is whether Darnold is actually mediocre at this point.

This.

The difference is contending for a playoff spot and flirting with 5-12. Owners like playoff contention. It keeps fans from flying planes over the stadium.

[O.city]

Mediocre is fine. Honestly, more teams should shoot for and be fine with that.

I can't believe Dallas didn't bring back McCarthy, a guy who has shown he can get the best out of Dak and win 12 games a year.

But, no. Lets shoot for "we've gotta win SB's this is unacceptable".

You don't have one of the top QB's who win SB's. You won't win.