Will there be a new starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025?
Sam Darnold has given them a great return on investment, leading them to the NFC wild-card playoffs after signing a one-year, $10 million deal in March. But Darnold will now be looking to earn much more as a free agent this offseason.
The Vikings need to decide whether they want to keep Darnold, 27, after his delayed big breakout season or turn the page to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy in Year 2. McCarthy missed all of his rookie season with a knee injury that required surgery, but he’s on track to be healthy by training camp.
Darnold did well in the Vikings’ offensive system under Kevin O’Connell and former Jets teammate Josh McCown. Will he remain a contingency plan for McCarthy’s first season of action, or will the team bridge again with another veteran QB? Here’s breaking down their potential plans
Vikings’ 6 best starting QB options in 2024
1. J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings can go back to their plan of rolling with McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in ’24. Although he didn’t play at all, he still had time to absorb O’Connell’s offense last summer, and they just might want to throw him there in the second year of his rookie contract with great optimism their system will keep on working.
2. Jimmy Garoppolo
Garoppolo was with the 49ers before Darnold, and he just played in an O’Connell-adjacent offense for Sean McVay as Matthew Stafford’s backup, showing well in a fill-in start in Week 18. He can make the transition well to at least replacing Darnold and Nick Mullens on the depth chart behind McCarthy, and he can start a few games early in 2025 if needed.
3. Daniel Jones
The Vikings took a worthy flier on Jones after his release from the Giants. He profiles as a good “re-developmental” No. 2 for McCarthy given his skill set of strong arm and athleticism. They can stand pat and be comfortable with Jones in the system if he needs to play the bridge.
4. Kirk Cousins
Cousins is 36 and coming off a miserable one-season stint with the Falcons where he was an expensive disappointment in the end, replaced by rookie first-rounder Michael Penix Jr. But if he’s willing to take a lesser deal to extend his career vs. retire, Cousins can come “home again” to play for O’Connell, for whom he had his best NFL season.
5. Sam Darnold
The Vikings also could decide to keep slow-playing it with the recovering McCarthy and bring back Darnold, but it might be difficult to convince him to come back on another one-year deal unless he gets a big bump in annual salary and guaranteed money. Then again, Darnold might realize he needs to stay in O’Connell’s offense to keep performing well, leading to a slighter lesser contract.
6. Jameis Winston
Winston is only 31 and still has something left as a leader and downfield passer. His aggressive nature could mesh well as another high-drafted veteran reclamation project for O’Connell should all other McCarthy contingencies fall through.
