The Vikings have a big quarterback decision to make this offseason: what are they going to do about pending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold?
A little over one week after Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson declared his support for keeping Darnold around, former Vikings wideout and Hall of Famer Cris Carter concurred.
Carter, who is the franchise’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, joined Kay Adams on her ‘Up & Adams’ show Wednesday to say he believes the Vikings should keep Darnold and second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy on their roster in 2025.
‘When you have quarterbacks that play well in your system like Sam Darnold did, I would not let him go in free agency,’ Carter said. ‘I would franchise (tag) him … and then let him and J.J. (McCarthy) have a competition come the fall.’
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A couple of factors complicate the Vikings’ looming decision: McCarthy’s injury last fall and Darnold’s relatively unexpected success in 2024.
Minnesota selected McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He started training camp as Darnold’s backup, but the wheels appeared to be in motion to allow the rookie from Michigan a chance to start early in the season. Carter went so far as to tell Adams on Wednesday’s show that he believed McCarthy ‘might have been ahead of [Darnold]’ on the depth chart as training camp went on.
Minnesota’s plans went awry when McCarthy tore his meniscus in the Vikings’ preseason opener and missed his rookie year. Darnold remained the starter and put together a career-best season as he led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, their first season with at least that many wins since 1998.
Playing on his fourth team in five years, Darnold’s strong season earned him his first Pro Bowl nod and some down-ballot MVP votes.
Carter pointed to the prowess of NFL Coach of the Year winner Kevin O’Connell as a reason for Darnold’s success.
‘What [O’Connell] does with the quarterbacks there is just phenomenal. It is incredible what he was able to get out of Sam Darnold, because we thought we knew Sam Darnold,’ he said.
The Hall of Famer went on to point out how O’Connell’s confidence in Darnold was obvious from his willingness to call a wide variety of plays. Whether it was play-action, short throws, deep throws or anything in between, the Vikings’ head coach/offensive play-caller didn’t shy away from calling on the veteran to step up.
‘I think they expanded [the offense] from when Kirk Cousins was there because of Sam’s ability to be more mobile,’ Carter said. ‘That’s underrated. His overall athleticism, his ability to be able to get out of trouble and make plays on his own, throwing on the run was exceptional this year. And he’s just 27 years old.’
Carter, like Jefferson, believes that Darnold has what it takes to keep the Vikings competitive as a strong player in O’Connell’s offensive system. And thanks to Darnold’s strong year and young age, the Minnesota legend believes that even keeping the quarterback around as a ‘commodity’ could pay dividends if the Vikings ultimately decide to trade him.
Ultimately, the ball is in the court of the Vikings’ front office, led by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, to make a decision. But for Darnold to get two strong votes of confidence – one from a current Hall of Fame wide receiver and one from a wideout who may be on his way to donning his own gold jacket in the future – is significant as the franchise tag deadline approaches.
