Sam Darnold’s Future with the Vikings? Rick Spielman Weighs In

In the years before Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Rick Spielman was in charge of the Minnesota Vikings. He built some excellent teams during his tenure but ultimately couldn’t bring the organization back to the big game. He went through numerous quarterbacks in his time with the Vikings.

Sam Darnold’s Future with the Vikings? Rick Spielman Weighs In

Kirk Cousins was his latest solution to the crucial spot after a carousel of Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater in the three previous seasons. He decided to move on from Keenum after his magical 2017 season. Sam Darnold’s current campaign has drawn some comparisons, and Spielman has weighed in.

The QB signed a one-year contract in March and is scheduled to enter free agency for the third consecutive offseason. The former executive, however, thinks his successor should not let him leave the building.

“If I was Minnesota, why wouldn’t you keep Sam Darnold? Why not do a potential bridge deal like a Baker Mayfield? Three years, $100 million deal?” Spielman said on the With the First Pick podcast.

The first problem with that theory is that Darnold might have a significant market, so he might even get a bigger deal than that. So far, he has thrown for 29 touchdowns (one rushing touchdown) and collected 11 interceptions in his best career season.

Spending $40 million or more would just repeat the Cousins dilemma of paying a solid but not elite quarterback what he is worth in today’s NFL. It would position the franchise right back into Spielman’s roster-building idea, one that the current regime wanted to get out of.

The ex-Viking isn’t sold on McCarthy. “He’s a rookie. He’s going to start over from scratch. He didn’t do anything this year. He’s not practicing. He’s sitting in meetings. He’s rehabbing. He hasn’t done one thing since that surgery except rehab throw the ball on the side, maybe. But he’s not practicing, so you’re starting from square one with him.”

That’s where Spielman and the Vikings seem to disagree. McCarthy, in the eyes of Kevin O’Connell, isn’t some experiment that might not work out. He is his guy, and every single word he has said about the young passer since the draft establishes that reality. When he opens his mouth to talk about the Michigan product, one can hear and see his excitement.

McCarthy brings the mobility that is necessary for today’s NFL and a powerful arm that turned heads prior to his injury. Reporters were gushing about the zip on his throws after every practice session.

Spielman concluded, “Look at what Green Bay did with Jordan Love. Look at what Green Bay did with Brett Favre. If you count next year, his rookie year, Patrick Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith. So if I sit him for two years, why not?”

At the end of the day, the Vikings will pivot to McCarthy if they think he’s ready to compete in Week 1 or shortly thereafter. They will try to re-up Darnold, but if his market is too contested, they won’t enter a bidding war when the next guy is already waiting in the wings and sign a different veteran instead as insurance. Daniel Jones comes to mind, who is already on the team’s practice squad and has a headstart in leading the offense.

The most realistic scenario for another year of Darnold in purple would be a lack of interest in free agency. However, there are plenty of potential suitors like the Tennessee Titans, the New York Giants, and the Las Vegas Raiders. And there might be more openings down the line, depending on the future at the QB position in Cleveland, Seattle, and the Los Angeles Rams.

For now, all fans can do is enjoy Darnold’s marvelous run. He’s guiding the club into the postseason under O’Connell’s tutelage. The good news is that the head coach is the perfect guy to form the 21-year-old into his next starting quarterback.

Expect those talkers to heat up after the season’s final whistle blows. Everyone will have an opinion, and they will all make them known.

Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt