https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootbal...-qbs-coach

The Vikings are hiring Jordan Traylor as their assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach, only 31 years old. Former college QB, his Dad is a current CFB coach. Spent 6 years in the Saints organization. Very well thought of, an obvious up-and-comer. I like seeing former college QBs in this spot, should help McCarthy. I think these younger guys can also relate better to the players.

I went on record as absolutely positively stating that the Vikings were definitely going to Tag and then trade Darnold.
This is the most compelling explanation why this would be a bad idea, per Will Ragatz.

Agent explains why tagging Sam Darnold could've blown up in Vikings' face
There are complicated reasons why tagging and trading Darnold was always easier said than done.
Will Ragatz | 1 Hour Ago

The news that the Vikings are not using the franchise tag on Sam Darnold has been met with some confusion from fans. Why wouldn't they be able to use the tag and then recoup draft capital by dealing the top quarterback available this offseason to one of several QB-needy teams?

Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. Even if there are multiple teams with real interest in Darnold this offseason, the "tag and trade" route is somewhat rare for a few reasons, and was always going to be easier said than done.

Let NFL agent and Team IFA president Blake Baratz — who represents Adam Thielen, among others — help explain.

"When you tag (Darnold), the entire $41M counts against the cap," Baratz wrote in a reply on X/Twitter on Tuesday. "You cannot use that to sign other players. In addition, he controls the cards of where he goes. In addition, every team knows they have zero intention or desire to have him play on the tag, so you actually lose trade value. The comp pick next year can very well exceed the trade value. We are talking about maybe 2-3 trade partners. It is actually a substantial risk."

The tag for quarterbacks this year is at $40.2 million. If Darnold had signed that, a major portion of the Vikings' cap space would've been tied up until they potentially traded him — and they clearly didn't want to bring him back on the tag. So they would've only ever really used it if they had a trade already lined up with another team, but that requires an interested buyer and Darnold's approval. As The Star Tribune's Ben Goessling put it, tagging Darnold would've "effectively (given) him a no-trade clause, since a new team would want to know whether the quarterback would sign a long-term deal with them before making the trade."

It's complicated and nuanced, but those are some of the reasons why the idea of tagging and trading Darnold didn't come to fruition. Now, despite insider reports that the Vikings are trying to re-sign him this week, it seems quite likely that Darnold will hit free agency next Monday. Once that happens, his camp can field offers from other teams and make a decision.

And that doesn't mean the Vikings will lose Darnold for nothing. They could still stand to gain a third-round compensatory pick in the 2026 draft, just like they did in this draft after Kirk Cousins left last offseason. It all depends on the comp pick formula, where they'd need to lose more qualifying free agents than they add.

The #Vikings want JJ McCarthy to start next year, and did not made a contract offer to Sam Darnold last week, per @MatthewBerryTMR. According to Berry, there is “not much of a market” for Sam Darnold’s thus far: “Darnold is stuck in this weird no man’s land at the moment. Seems crazy to think this, but if dominoes fall a specific way, there’s 100% a scenario where Sam Darnold doesn’t have a starting job next year.”

https://www.newsstation2.com/2025/03/04/...ntil-2028/

The contract extension, which keeps Darnold with the Vikings through the 2028 season, is reportedly worth $45 million over the next two years. This includes base salary, signing bonuses, and performance incentives, with additional clauses tied to playoff performance and Pro Bowl selections. The Vikings are clearly banking on Darnold continuing to improve and elevating his play in the coming seasons.

I bet this wont have unintended consequences.  LOL

“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” the US president wrote on Truth Social.

“Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...g-protests

Just reported. For a little under the transition tag money. Going to be interesting. Might be a camp battle for the starting gig. If true, I'm surprised.

Honestly. So here's how this year is going to go and I can't be the only one that's thought this since Sammy went and had a mostly really good year. 

1. Minnesota lets Sammy walk and sign elsewhere and he knocks it out of the park. Some fans have said how can you let that production walk out the door? Whether you agree with that or not, its a legit sentiment. 
   
2. Sammy walks, knocks it out of the park and McCarthy sucks. Horrible scenario. Quintessential Vikings and our worst nightmare as fans.
   
3. Both Sammy and JJ play well for their respective teams. The most palatable of the scenarios. Sign me up for this.
   
4. Sammy completely comes unglued with his new team and McCarthy rocks and shows those franchise QB traits in purple. I honestly don't want Sammy to shit the bed, he's a good kid. I have zero aptitude to enjoy watching him fail somewhere. But would be great for the Vikings and their future. 
   
5. Least likely scenario: both QBs suck in 2025. Nothing to be done there.