BREAKING SAM PROBABLY COMING BACK

Do the Vikings want QB Sam Darnold back? Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell don’t say no

The Vikings general manager told reporters Thursday that Darnold is among the “good options” the Vikings have at quarterback while adding that J.J. McCarthy has returned to on-field training.

General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told reporters during Thursday’s season-ending news conference that Darnold is among the “good options” the Vikings have at quarterback moving forward.

Darnold, who prior to this year hadn’t been a Week 1 starter since 2021, made $10 million on a one-year deal while throwing for his first 4,000-yard, 35-touchdown season. His best year to date ended with his two worst starts in the two biggest moments during the season-finale loss in Detroit, in which the NFC’s No. 1 seed and NFC North title was at stake, and Monday night’s playoff loss against the Rams.

“Incredible football for us. Won a lot of big games,” Adofo-Mensah said Thursday. “We’re talking about games where he won them for us. There were a lot of games where he was a win-because-of type of player.

You also have to net that with all of in totality. I don’t want to give you the stock answer, but it really is everything we do is, ‘What’s the team around him going to look like? What does this piece fit into our whole championship equation?’ We’ll do those exercises like we did last offseason.”

“You’re making decisions under uncertainty,” he added. “Once you find a course of action, it’s about how you go about your plan. How you show up every day and get the best version of whoever you decide to go with at quarterback. How does that fit into your long-term picture? Contract structure? All those things will go into our plan. I’m excited to have those conversations, because I think we have a lot of good options. At the most important position in our sport, I think that’s a great thing.”

Those options are led by Darnold and first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the 10th-overall pick who Adofo-Mensah said is “on the field throwing and training” after missing his rookie season while undergoing two procedures to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

O’Connell said it’s “way too early” to know the direction at quarterback when asked whether Darnold’s play changed his outlook for the 2025 season.

“I envisioned having that kind of year,” O’Connell said. “ was absolutely on the right track. At the same time, I do remember saying Sam was having a great training camp. ... I think it’s a remarkable thing to have all those guys in the room.”

“As we kind of decompress and go through those games,” O’Connell added, “which we’ll do many, many times, probably too many times to be honest if I’m speaking totally for myself. ... We’ve got to acknowledge the big picture and my job as head coach is figure out every layer of the why of how it ended.”

Adofo-Mensah said team leadership “didn’t necessarily decide” on a timeline for McCarthy before Darnold took the reins at the start of this season.

“I always ask Kevin before the season starts,” Adofo-Mensah said, “‘What information would you need to kind of change your mind?’ And say it beforehand, so you’re not whipped around by what could potentially happen. We had those conversations beforehand. Look, we thought there was a chance Sam Darnold could play at a high level.”

“Did we know it was going to be Pro Bowl?” he added, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you... I think there was some part of us that all believed Sam was going to have a really good season, so when we made the move it was part of the calculus. I think everybody looks at these things as binary. ... I don’t think it is that.

I think it’s making sure you have a certain level of play at the quarterback position for as long as Kevin and I are here. I think we’ve set ourselves up to do that and we’re excited about that opportunity.”

Startribune

MaroonBells wrote:
Saying he's "probably" coming back is silly. Is it possible? Sure. He could find a cold market out there after the last couple games and realize that his best opportunity is in Minnesota. But he's likely going to get at least a $25M-$40M offer from one of several teams who are desperate for a starting QB. Vikings aren't likely to match that. And they sure as hell won't match the term. I think they believe that JJM is the QBOTF. 

From the Vikings perspective, they may want some security if JJM struggles either with playing or staying healthy. But isn't that what Daniel Jones is for?

Wow, 25-40? I would say he's gone. I don't know the particulars or whether we could use the transition tag or not, but I seriously doubt we spend that much to keep him. Let's just say he won one of our last two games, then the point could be made but he didn't. I know it's a team game but QB has to play better in playoff games. Very hard for me to see any team offer him over 25. Maybe I'm too old school.

Nobody is throwing Jones into the conversation?
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Daniel Jones: "I think he’s a potential option for us going forward.

DH11 wrote:

Link? Lol

So since no one wanted to answer the question, let me ask it again if the Vikings loved JJ McCarthy, why did they try and make a trade for Justin Herbert before the draft and then during the draft trade up with New England to get Drake Maye?????

Bueller Bueller..

The link is common sense which you clearly don't have an ounce of.

Canthony wrote:
KOC Presser today: "I think Sam showed the league what he can do. He showed the NFL on what he can do and what he did in just one year. Sam should be very proud of his body of work and what he put together to show. His preparation day in and day out, I think he proved to the league on what he brings."

Everything was past tense. He never referenced Sam building on what he did here or anything. He never used the words Vikings, this team, his team or anything else when referring to Sam. Just the NFL and the league. Hes being tagged and traded for sure. No doubt about it now. There was no endorsement whatsoever of his coming back or anything.

^^^

I think they're going to hold their intentions close to the vest for a while, as they should. 

I would not be surprised by a tag/trade - they need to see if they can get some compensation.

I would also not be surprised if he ends-up just walking either - but that's not my hope or the outcome I want from this front office. They need to find a way to turn this asset into a benefit for the franchise.

Alec Lewis
@alec_lewis
·
8m
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah says QB J.J. McCarthy is "on the field throwing and training." Said "he looks great ... you talk about a kid who is obsessed with football." Said "we're excited about him."

Canthony wrote:


That has been the report about him since we drafted him. I was impressed when he came into rookie minicamp knowing the whole playbook. That told me he was all in on the game. You can't teach that.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on J.J. McCarthy: "He's on the field, throwing and training. He looks great. You talk about a kid who's just obsessed with football and loves being around the game. We're excited about what we have in him. We're excited about this offseason for him."

purplefaithful wrote:

^^^

I think they're going to hold their intentions close to the vest for a while, as they should. 

I would not be surprised by a tag/trade - they need to see if they can get some compensation.

I would also not be surprised if he ends-up just walking either - but that's not my hope or the outcome I want from this front office. They need to find a way to turn this asset into a benefit for the franchise.

Everything that was said was zero endorsement to Darnold. All that was said was a sell to the league about Darnold. To get teams to call and ask what it is that the Vikings want if and when he is tagged.

Norse wrote:
Nobody is throwing Jones into the conversation? Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Daniel Jones: "I think he’s a potential option for us going forward.

I don't see them paying as much as Jones will command on the FA market.  I see them looking for another reclamation project in that 10 mill range and letting both Darnold and Jones walk unless a market doesnt develop for one amd then they could be back,  but i dont think that will be the case,  especially Jones, he doesnt have as bad of a past as Darnold had.

JimmyinSD wrote:

I don't see them paying as much as Jones will command on the FA market.  I see them looking for another reclamation project in that 10 mill range and letting both Darnold and Jones walk unless a market doesnt develop for one amd then they could be back,  but i dont think that will be the case,  especially Jones, he doesnt have as bad of a past as Darnold had.

Daniel Jones may take less to stay here on a 1-yr deal to get further development and a chance to compete for a starting spot (assuming Darnold is tag/traded or we let him go).  

I can't see a team offering 40+ million like he got last time from the Giants.  His market might be more in the 10-15 mil range if teams want him as a short term bridge starter or maybe 3 for 75 mil if they view as a solid starter like Geno Smith. 

If that's the case, maybe Jones says hey I like this situation here if it's me and JJ McCarthy and all these weapons and KOC coaching me.  I'll do 1-yr 15 mil and be in a better situation to resurrect my career.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Daniel Jones may take less to stay here on a 1-yr deal to get further development and a chance to compete for a starting spot (assuming Darnold is tag/traded or we let him go).  

I can't see a team offering 40+ million like he got last time from the Giants.  His market might be more in the 10-15 mil range if teams want him as a short term bridge starter or maybe 3 for 75 mil if they view as a solid starter like Geno Smith. 

If that's the case, maybe Jones says hey I like this situation here if it's me and JJ McCarthy and all these weapons and KOC coaching me.  I'll do 1-yr 15 mil and be in a better situation to resurrect my career.

He might. I think that's the reason he came here in the first place. 

But there are just so many teams who just got nothin' at QB. Not much in the draft either. Darnold is by far the best QB on the market. After that, it's sludge like Wilson and Fields and Winston. I think Jones might be 2nd on that list now.

I have NO IDEA what the mkt for Jones is, nor his intentions for 25.

Maybe he views one of the QB needy teams as a QB away from being competitive? Decent enough culture?

I like Sam, happy for Sam this season. He also showed his ceiling the last two really big games. I dont want to hitch our wagon there.

Been there done that.

JJM/Jones for 25 and let them compete for QB1 is my personal preference.

purplefaithful wrote:


^^^

I think they're going to hold their intentions close to the vest for a while, as they should. 

This. And everything else currently being speculated online is garbage. They have a strategic path forward in mind, but none of the levers will get pulled for awhile yet. The season needs to end, Minnesota has to see what coaches if any leave to sign elsewhere and then backfill, etc. It'll all be evident in due time, but that time isn't right now. But that won't stop the 24/7 sports news cycle to spew made up conjecture.

MaroonBells wrote:

He might. I think that's the reason he came here in the first place. 

But there are just so many teams who just got nothin' at QB. Not much in the draft either. Darnold is by far the best QB on the market. After that, it's sludge like Wilson and Fields and Winston. I think Jones might be 2nd on that list now.

this is how I see it,  SD and Jones are top 5 FA QBs ( albeit with some major warts),  several teams will be looking to draft a rookie to groom and likely wanting a veteran bridge to fill that role and those that miss out on the anorexic thin QB draft will be looking for somebody to get them to next year.  I dont think we see either one come back for under 20, and while Jones resigning here for cheap to suckle from the teat of QB knowledge... he also has to know that its likely JJM time and his value isnt likely to increase just because he spent 1 season in KOC college,  but never got a chance to show what he has learned.  I think both of their agents will be instructing them to take the offer that pays the most,  not the one that MAY lead to a better deal down the road.

It certainly feels like a bad year to need a QB.

Here's one list of free agent QBs. Doesn't include guys like Cousins or Rodgers who might end up traded or on the market.

https://www.sbnation.com/2025/1/6/24325356/nfl-free-agent-rankings-quarterbacks-russell-wilson-sam-darnold

10. Daniel Jones, New York Giants/Minnesota Vikings
9. Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
8. Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
6. Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers
5. Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
4. Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
3. Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings