NFL Analysis
12/8/24
5 min read
2025 NFL Free Agency: Top Landing Spots for Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold has resurrected his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and the 27-year-old quarterback will have his choice of a handful of opportunities to be a starting QB next season.
The Vikings weren't expecting Darnold to be the preferred starter through the entire 2024 season, but a knee injury to first-round pick J.J. McCarthy forced their hand. Instead of struggling with an unproven veteran, the Vikings have gone 11-2 while Darnold has put up strong numbers throughout the year.
Darnold aired it out again in Week 14, leading the Vikings to a 42-21 win. The former first-round pick finished the game completing 22-of-28 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns, giving him a nearly perfect 157.9 passer rating.
While Darnold and the Vikings are focusing on a playoff run, multiple teams will likely consider pursuing the 27-year-old in free agency. Here are a few of those teams that could try to sign Darnold this offseason.
Sam Darnold Landing Spots
every week sam darnold is laying down games like this and you're missing it cause you still think of him as the guy who got mononucleosis in 2019 pic.twitter.com/doD5Juc8oB
— Luke Braun (@LukeBraunNFL) December 4, 2024
Minnesota Vikings 
With how Darnold has played for the Vikings this season, they might be interested in keeping the former first-round pick around a while longer. However, reports from Sunday indicate the Vikings won't re-sign Darnold. Still, they'll have to at least consider it.
Even the most conservative evaluation of Darnold this season would label him an above-average quarterback. According to NFELO, he ranked seventh in success rate and 13th in adjusted net yards per attempt heading into Week 14.
The Vikings keeping Darnold would be a wise move to not rush McCarthy into the starting lineup. He's missed out on some crucial practice reps while sidelined with his knee injury, which seems more complicated than originally expected after undergoing a second surgery in November.
Kevin O'Connell and Darnold have established a strong connection. While Darnold may not be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL, he could be a valuable bridge quarterback to continue starting in 2025 while allowing McCarthy to ease into a starting spot.
New York Giants
There's something fitting about Darnold returning to the city where he started his NFL career.
Daniel Jones never ended up being the long-term option for the New York Giants, despite one season where he showed enough promise to earn a massive contract extension. Now, the Giants are in a position to wipe the slate clean at quarterback and potentially at head coach and general manager.
A new GM would likely want to take a swing on a rookie quarterback, especially if the Giants can secure a top-three pick. However, this quarterback class isn't as strong as in previous seasons, and a player like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders may not be considered great value that early, depending on the GM.
A more conservative GM might be willing to sign a veteran like Darnold as a win-win situation. If Darnold thrives, the Giants can build out the roster at other positions. If it goes poorly, the Giants can tank for a quarterback in next year's draft, where they could take Eli Manning's nephew in Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning.
That all depends on the Giants' direction in 2025, but Darnold could still be a good fit to get the ball to weapons like Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Definitely had “I Believe I Can Fly” playing in my head as Will Levis took flight on this fourth and 2. pic.twitter.com/xmO7fDKGFF
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) September 22, 2024
Tennessee Titans
It might be time for the Tennessee Titans to pull the plug on Will Levis.
The second-round pick just a couple of years ago has shown flashes of being an exciting gunslinger. However, his poor decision-making and consistency have crippled Tennessee's offense, and his play style has hurt and prevented him from protecting himself from injury.
Benching Levis in 2025 might be waving the white flag, but it could also give the strong-armed QB a chance to reset and turn his career around. Darnold was in a similar situation after his early-career struggles, which could make him an ideal mentor to Levis with the Titans.
The Titans' defense is too good, and the offense desperately needs to invest in its offensive line instead of reaching for a quarterback in the 2025 draft. Instead of moving up for a QB, the Titans could sign a veteran, sit Levis, and work on building the rest of the roster to try to compete in the AFC South next season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers don't have a single quarterback currently under contract in 2025.
Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kyle Allen are all free agents after this season. The Steelers gambled on their strategy of stop-gap quarterbacks this season but found success with Fields and Wilson starting.
Wilson secured the starting job once healthy and has looked like a legitimate starter for Pittsburgh. Before Sunday's contest against Cleveland, he had thrown 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions in six games, showcasing impressive efficiency under center.
It's likely that the Steelers will bring Wilson back after such a solid season for the Steelers. However, if the Steelers aren't sold on the long-term value of retaining a 36-year-old version of Wilson, they could explore other free-agent options.
Darnold would be the top free-agent quarterback available and would be a younger option for Pittsburgh. He ranked ninth in the league in average depth of target heading into Week 14, meaning that he wouldn't be afraid to get George Pickens involved on deep shots, which would make him a fit for their offense.
It's a long shot, but if the Steelers don't want to risk sticking with Wilson as he approaches the end of his career, Darnold could be a worthwhile option.
