In Minnesota, Sam Darnold May Become the Target of Cruel Irony.
In 2018, the New York Jets selected Sam Darnold as the third-overall pick and immediately placed him in first-team reps during organized team activities (OTAs). According to NJ.com, Darnold had 68 reps (17 with the first team) during the three OTAs open to reporters. Josh McCown, meanwhile, took 49 first-team reps, and Teddy Bridgewater had 39 reps with the second team.
“I’m making progress, but I’m not where I want to be yet,” Darnold said. “I know it will take time, and it’s a process. It’s exciting to understand the playbook the way I do and to see my progress. I’m really enthusiastic about where I’m headed.”
Ironically, Darnold began his career between McCown and Bridgewater, representing the Vikings’ future and past. McCown, now Minnesota’s quarterbacks coach, spent 16 years in the league. The Vikings drafted Bridgewater 32nd overall in 2014 to be their franchise quarterback, but he dislocated his knee in a non-contact injury in August 2016, and they moved on a year later.
Six seasons later, Darnold finds himself again between Minnesota’s past and future. Unless J.J. McCarthy impresses in camp, Darnold will replace Kirk Cousins in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Unlike the Jets and Carolina Panthers, the Vikings have positioned Darnold for success, boasting their best offensive line in years. He’ll have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison as wide receivers and Aaron Jones as his running back. T.J. Hockenson may also return in time to play with him.
Still, the Vikings are eager to play McCarthy as soon as he’s ready, posing a challenge for Darnold. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah won’t label him a “bridge quarterback,” but at 27, Darnold is a veteran on a one-year contract with the 10th-overall pick behind him.
To avoid overexposing McCarthy, Nick Mullens is likely to start the year as Minnesota’s backup while McCarthy learns O’Connell’s system. Darnold’s job is to secure wins during the tough early part of the season, then hand over the reins to McCarthy when he’s ready.
“That’s just how it goes, right?” Darnold said Tuesday. “Many businesses allow you to work for 30-40 years, but in the NFL, the average career is like 3-4 years. Going into my seventh year, I feel like a vet, and I’m always happy to help any young guys in the locker room, including J.J.”
Darnold’s willingness to assist his teammates, including McCarthy, should benefit him in the long run. Teams are more likely to consider a player who is supportive in the locker room.
However, Darnold would need to perform like a franchise quarterback immediately to make the Vikings reconsider McCarthy. They traded up to draft McCarthy, and he’s on an affordable rookie contract. Even if Darnold plays well early, the Vikings will likely switch to McCarthy by the bye week or before a more manageable stretch starting in Week 9.
Assuming the Vikings keep McCarthy on the sidelines until Week 9 and remain in the playoff hunt, Darnold will have played well against teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Los Angeles Rams. He may have won a Week 1 road game against the New York Giants and defeated the Jets in London, facing coaches Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, who influenced O’Connell, and division rivals Packers and Lions. The Texans, an emerging team, took a chance on a quarterback (C.J. Stroud) and an edge rusher (Will Anderson), similar to the Vikings’ picks of McCarthy and Dallas Turner.
After this stretch, the Vikings will likely transition to McCarthy, who would face the Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans in his first three starts. This approach benefits both McCarthy and the franchise. But if Darnold excels this season, it will be because he’s in the best situation of his career. Future teams might not offer the same level of offensive talent.
In June 2018, Darnold couldn’t have predicted how his career would unfold. He made 13 starts as a rookie, going 4-9 with a 45.9 QBR. His infamous “seeing ghosts” comment from Week 6 of his second season during a 33-0 loss to the New England Patriots haunts him. NBC mic’d him up for Monday Night Football, capturing the remark.
The Jets moved on from Darnold after his 2-10 record in his third season. He then joined the Panthers for two years, going 8-9 with a 1:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 77.3 quarterback rating. Last year, he played for Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, completing 16 of 26 passes for 189 yards in a Week 17 loss to the Rams. Now, he’s the bridge between Cousins and McCarthy.
Most NFL general managers move on from high draft picks who bust with their first team. However, Baker Mayfield, after splitting the 2022 season between the Panthers and Rams, signed a three-year, $100 million extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a 94.6 quarterback rating season. The Jets’ 2013 second-round pick, Geno Smith, plays on a three-year, $75 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks after tumultuous years in New York and stints with the Giants and Chargers.
