“Sam Darnold chose a pivotal moment to have his best season yet.”

You might recall that I mentioned this before the Minnesota Vikings faced a 27-9 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card playoff on Monday night. Despite Darnold’s remarkable season, it was unfortunate that he had two of his poorest performances just when it mattered most.
However, both points can coexist.
Now that the Vikings have been eliminated and with Darnold’s one-year contract nearing its end, both sides find themselves in a state of uncertainty as they look toward 2025. The Vikings currently have only one quarterback committed for next season: J.J. McCarthy, their first-round pick in 2024, who was sidelined for his entire rookie year due to a preseason knee injury. Darnold, who seemed to have turned a corner in his career, especially in the midst of his first Pro Bowl season, faced challenges in helping the team as they lost their last two games. These defeats included losing a chance for the NFC North title and home-field advantage against Detroit in Week 18, which would have provided a smoother path to the playoffs.

“Considering the Vikings’ recent performance and Darnold’s struggles, he may have jeopardized his earning potential,” remarked ESPN broadcaster Joe Buck after Minnesota’s Monday night defeat, echoing a common sentiment in the NFL.
About Darnold’s future, Buck’s colleague, Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman, added: “Today’s discussion about him is quite different from what it was two weeks ago.”

However, Darnold’s chances on the market aren’t likely to disappear entirely. He had an impressive season, guiding the Vikings to a 14-3 record, the highest wins achieved by an NFL quarterback in their first season with a team, despite it being his fourth different team since 2020.
“It’s vital that we remember Sam’s overall contributions this year, especially when few believed he could lead a team to 14 wins,” said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell following the loss to the Rams.

“His commitment to self-improvement and excellence has been commendable.”

Given Darnold’s age and the market dynamics favoring quarterbacks, he still holds promise. While he may have missed out on a lucrative long-term deal worth over $40 million annually, a negotiated agreement similar to the three-year, $100 million contract that 2018 draft classmate Baker Mayfield received from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (with half of it guaranteed) could still serve as a beneficial outcome for both Darnold and a potential team.

No matter what unfolds, Darnold is set to be the top option in free agency – if he reaches it – during a period when many teams are in search of starting quarterbacks, yet high-quality candidates are scarce, especially with the upcoming draft viewed as lacking star prospects.
“Don’t forget, he’s only 27 years old,” said O’Connell, “and he has built a foundation of knowledge regarding what it takes to succeed as a quarterback, including lessons learned from difficulties. Many of the sport’s legends have faced similar challenges throughout their careers. I am confident that Sam will take away positive experiences from this season.”
With that context in mind, here are eight plausible landing spots for Darnold in 2025 as he embarks on the next chapter of his career:

Cleveland Browns

Given the troubles surrounding Deshaun Watson, including his injuries and performance issues, the Browns hold the second overall pick in the 2025 draft and may look for alternatives. This team has the talent to succeed, evidenced by their 11-6 record last year under temporary quarterback Joe Flacco. If GM Andrew Berry and HC Kevin Stefanski aren’t completely sold on prospects like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward from the University of Miami, Darnold could provide a more affordable route to improve the team while the franchise maps out a strategic draft plan.

Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders were eyeing Jayden Daniels last year but couldn’t secure any of the six quarterbacks picked in Round 1 of the 2024 draft. Joining the Raiders would allow Darnold, a West Coast native, to play closer to home while potentially contributing to a rebuilding process for a team that has struggled in the AFC West. The franchise’s recent ownership change, now involving legend Tom Brady, could also add a compelling factor for Darnold. Though the roster has its challenges, the presence of rising star TE Brock Bowers and a decent offensive line makes this an appealing option.

Los Angeles Rams

This team offers Darnold a chance to return home, as he is from Southern California and played at USC. Having thrived under O’Connell, Darnold would be a good fit with coach Sean McVay’s philosophy, benefiting from a wealth of talent on offense. However, the challenge lies with Matthew Stafford, who will turn 37 soon and is under contract until 2026. Stafford has been contemplating his future yearly, and this could open a path for Darnold.

New York Giants

The Giants are clearly in desperate need of a quarterback upgrade and are positioned to select third in the draft, though that doesn’t guarantee they’ll find the solution there. Coach Brian Daboll has shown his capability to work with quarterbacks, having developed Josh Allen in Buffalo and having inherited Daniel Jones, albeit with mixed results. Darnold, originally drafted third overall by the Jets in 2018, faced ample challenges with them due to limited support, but he handled the New York media landscape with relative ease. His return could be a tough sell to some fans, yet he might be the best available option as circumstances unfold, and partnering him with WR Malik Nabers could be a fascinating combination, especially given Darnold’s instant chemistry with Justin Jefferson in Minnesota.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Like Darnold, both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are also in need of contracts. The Steelers are drafting 21st in the first round, a spot where franchise quarterbacks are rarely found (Kenny Pickett was selected at 20 in 2022). The Steelers have several choices ahead, including retaining Wilson and/or Fields or considering veteran players like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins, who are still contracted with the Jets and Falcons, respectively. Yet, Darnold presents a solid option – potentially the best they’ve considered in a while.
Ben Roethlisberger retired four years ago, and his skills and athletic build would seem like a great match for OC Arthur Smith’s system, similar to Ryan Tannehill’s experience in Tennessee. Given the options available.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are a talented squad that has usually competed at a championship level in recent years, but they just came off a disappointing season, partly due to injuries. This offseason, they also have several business decisions to make. QB Brock Purdy has proven to be the biggest bargain in the league for three years, but he took a step back in 2024— his worst season to date. Darnold was the backup during the 2023 season when the 49ers made it to the Super Bowl, so he’s a known presence within the organization. As GM John Lynch and HC Kyle Shanahan consider whether to offer a hefty contract to Purdy, who is now eligible for a significant extension, they might also look at retaining Darnold for what would likely be a much lower price. This route would alleviate financial pressure on a roster full of talent and provide the option to trade Purdy, who was the last draft pick in 2022, for a substantial return. Is this scenario likely? Perhaps not. Is it on the table? Absolutely.

Tennessee Titans

With the top pick in the 2025 draft, the Titans have the first opportunity to choose players like Ward or Sanders. In simpler terms, they could also select Heisman Trophy-winning dual-threat Travis Hunter— a player likely too exceptional to overlook, especially when considering other passing prospects aren’t guaranteed to excel. Nevertheless, Coach Brian Callahan seemed to be finished with the Will Levis experiment by the end of the 2024 season, and Mason Rudolph is set to become a free agent. Darnold might be a smart, short-term addition for a team with talent that clearly needs to find its direction.

Minnesota Vikings

Earlier this week, I thought the best strategy for the Vikings would be to put the franchise tag on Darnold by March 4 and explore their options. This could involve re-signing him, sparking a bidding war before deciding on a trade partner, retaining him for 2025 amidst uncertainty around McCarthy, or even considering trading the young quarterback instead. All these possibilities could still be valid, but it’s essential to question if GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is willing to approve a tag that exceeds $40 million and would significantly reduce Minnesota’s available cap space, especially after trading up to draft McCarthy last April.

That said, Darnold has shown that despite his turbulent career, he can thrive with the right coaching and teammates, potentially improving if given the stability he’s lacked in the NFL. Throughout the season, he often demonstrated the potential expected of him coming out of USC—making impressive throws on designed plays and turning broken plays into successful ones, all while reducing the errors that have plagued him previously including the last two games. Given that he wouldn’t demand a crippling contract, he could be a solid backup (and safety net) option, especially considering McCarthy has not yet taken a snap in the regular season and entered the league following a championship run at Michigan. However, it’s worth noting he did so without showcasing that he could carry a team of that caliber, let alone an NFL franchise.

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