Which QB do the Vikes draft in 2024?

[GophersInIowa]

The problem is that "discount" is probably 3 years/$90 million.

If they potentially want him back, I’d do that in a heartbeat. $30M a year would put him at like the 20th highest paid QB this year.

 

[Ope3]

If you participated in the thread, then you would’ve seen there was a healthy & hearty discussion regarding which QB should have been drafted and which ones were the best prospects etc…We now have some actual data, so it’s funfor some, to revisit the topic.

And yet 52 others did and it’s generated multiple posts today

It was.

I never got into The Replacements - that doesn’t make me wrong or right - just different. Different strokes, different folks, Arnold.

First off, my intention was never intended to be critical. My initial confusion was genuine, and my response was an attempt at sarcastic humor.

The thread has now morphed into a "Keep or Ditch Darnold" discussion, which would seem more appropriate in the "Vikings In Season" thread or even better in the upcoming "Vikings Off Season" thread. That's all I'm saying.

All good though. I can deal with it on my own.

With regards to the Original Topic/Post, given that hindsight is 20/20...since JJM was injured for the entire 2024 Season, underwent another procedure delaying his development for 2025+, how well Darnold is playing now and the Vikings in general, I wish they had taken whomever could have helped out the Secondary the most. I wish they had just given Darnold the reigns and let 'er rip.

Hugh Downs. RIP.

By the end of 2026 with even more information, I may feel differently about the subject. I hope I do.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

First off, my intention was never intended to be critical. My initial confusion was genuine, and my response was an attempt at sarcastic humor.

Appreciate the clarification and I was just trying to have some natured fun.

The thread has now morphed into a "Keep or Ditch Darnold" discussion, which would seem more appropriate in the "Vikings In Season" thread or even better in the upcoming "Vikings Off Season" thread. That's all I'm saying.

I’m an unstructured person, both on and offline, so if things verve from their intended path, I’m down like Judge Roy Brown for the havoc.

All good though. I can deal with it on my own.

With regards to the Original Topic/Post, given that hindsight is 20/20...since JJM was injured for the entire 2024 Season, underwent another procedure delaying his development for 2025+, how well Darnold is playing now and the Vikings in general, I wish they had taken whomever could have helped out the Secondary the most. I wish they had just given Darnold the reigns and let 'er rip.

Hugh Downs. RIP.

By the end of 2026 with even more information, I may feel differently about the subject. I hope I do.

I’m on record that if Darnold gets us to the NFC Championship game, we should sign
him regardless of the outcome, no idea if that’s it’s a good plan.

I learned in business, that things aren’t static and flexibility is required when things change; I’d rather have this issue than Darnold being average to bad. It’s a good problem

 

[Ope3]

I’m on record that if Darnold gets us to the NFC Championship game, we should sign
him regardless of the outcome, no idea if that’s it’s a good plan.

I learned in business, that things aren’t static and flexibility is required when things change; is rather have this issue than Darnold being average yo bad. It’s a good problem

The last QB that took the Vikings to the NFC Championship game was kicked to the curb about an hour later...for Kirk Cousins.

I kinda new the writing was on the wall for Case. Sometime after Thanksgiving 2017 and before Christmas, on my lunch hour I went to the Vikings Team store at the Zygi Dome. I was looking for a Keenum #7 jersey or even T-shirt.

I was told that they were Out of Stock by the friendly staff, with no plans to order more. True story.

So I suppose, if you want the "inside scoop" on the Darnold decision, the information may available via that route again.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

The last QB that took the Vikings to the NFC Championship game was kicked to the curb about an hour later...for Kirk Cousins.

I kinda new the writing was on the wall for Case. Sometime after Thanksgiving 2017 and before Christmas, on my lunch hour I went to the Vikings Team store at the Zygi Dome. I was looking for a Keenum #7 jersey or even T-shirt.

This would be a great scenario for a Get Smart episode.

I was told that they were Out of Stock by the friendly staff, with no plans to order more. True story.

This gives me major logistical .

In my last business foray, we ended up doing international research projects and as it was a new venture for the firm and since I brought in the business, I ended up setting it up, hiring vendors, dealing with budget etc…so my unstructured Wild and Crazy Guy persona, developed an unnatural affinity for logistics; I absolutely love companies whose planning is forward thinking, as this might have been. I would absolutely love to understand, in detail, how Amazon does what it does do well.

So I suppose, if you want the "inside scoop" on the Darnold decision, the information may available via that route again.

Sounds like an assignment for the Team

 

[Ski U Mah Gopher]

I say franchise Darnold for 2025 and go from there.

 

[gophersfan]

Come on peoples. the only way Sam Darnold is back with Minnesota if we win the Super bowl. but JJ McCarthy will be the starting QB in 2025.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Come on peoples. the only way Sam Darnold is back with Minnesota if we win the Super bowl. but JJ McCarthy will be the starting QB in 2025.

You might end up being correct, but with Sam's play and our team success, it's not that simple of a decision any more.

We currently have $78M in Cap space for 2025 but KAM has a bunch of our guys that are also FAs that we should try to re-sign:

Darnold
A. Jones
P. Jones
Bynum
Gilmore
Murphy Jr
Tillery
Bullard
KGH

A lot of tough decisions to make on our own guys before we even look at other FAs. Kwesi has earned our trust when it comes to identifying quality guys that fit our budget and schemes.

I'd say it's 50/50 right now that Darnold is back next year. It should be interesting to say the least.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

You might end up being correct, but with Sam's play and our team success, it's not that simple of a decision any more.

We currently have $78M in Cap space for 2025 but KAM has a bunch of our guys that are also FAs that we should try to re-sign:

Darnold
A. Jones
P. Jones
Bynum
Gilmore
Murphy Jr
Tillery
Bullard
KGH

A lot of tough decisions to make on our own guys before we even look at other FAs. Kwesi has earned our trust when it comes to identifying quality guys that fit our budget and schemes.

I'd say it's 50/50 right now that Darnold is back next year. It should be interesting to say the least.

Is JJ’s room ready?

 

[WoodburyTim]

The Vikings (this ownership group, this FO, this staff) are in the business of winning football games, competing for a division title, and competing for a SB run. They are going to start the QB that they think best gives them the chance to do that.

I can most definitely assure you that the fans care a whole lot more about "QB on a rookie contract" than the Front Office does. This angle is way, way overblown for the most part.

The more important thing is, what percentage of the cap does the QB take up? You may think it's the same thing but it's not. For example, despite signing a big extension not long ago, Jalen Hurts this year still only 5.2% of the Eagles salary cap.

Even if the Vikings paid Darnold $30M next season, that would be just under 11% of what the cap is projected to be. You start to get into trouble when the QB is taking up 17-20% and beyond of the cap.

KAM has deftly put the Vikings in a position where a reasonable contract for Darnold won't phase them a bit. The real question is, what do KOC and McCown think of Darnold and JJM?

Bingo. That last question is the big one. They aren’t going to keep JJM just because he is ina rookie contract if they aren’t reasonably sure he is an upgrade from Darnold.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Not sure if this factors into the decision making, but just heard Dak has missed 31% of his regular season games since 2020; Darnold per this site has remained fairly healthy and seems to bounce back quickly -

Sam Darnold Injury History & Updates

Sam Darnold Injury History & Updates. Our injury data is so comprehensive, even NFL teams have paid for it. Our algorithm even predicts injuries

www.draftsharks.com

 

[Slim Tubby]

Is JJ’s room ready?

That $40M will build one hell of a guest house.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

That $40M will build one hell of a guest house.

When his contract’s over, I’ll bless you with my company

 

[howeda7]

You might end up being correct, but with Sam's play and our team success, it's not that simple of a decision any more.

We currently have $78M in Cap space for 2025 but KAM has a bunch of our guys that are also FAs that we should try to re-sign:

Darnold
A. Jones
P. Jones
Bynum
Gilmore
Murphy Jr
Tillery
Bullard
KGH

A lot of tough decisions to make on our own guys before we even look at other FAs. Kwesi has earned our trust when it comes to identifying quality guys that fit our budget and schemes.

I'd say it's 50/50 right now that Darnold is back next year. It should be interesting to say the least.

If they lose in the WC round or go to Detroit/Philly and lose by 10 + points in the Divisional round, I don't think it's that hard of a call. They will thank Sam and send him on his way.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

If they lose in the WC round or go to Detroit/Philly and lose by 10 + points in the Divisional round, I don't think it's that hard of a call. They will thank Sam and send him on his way.

If they lose to the Eagles by 10+ points it will be because Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis steamrolled Brandel/Bradbury/Ingram all day long and collapsed the pocket on Darnold before he could even set up

Bingo. That last question is the big one. They aren’t going to keep JJM just because he is ina rookie contract if they aren’t reasonably sure he is an upgrade from Darnold.

Darnold is 27 years old, just hitting his prime, and has physical tools that few NFL QBs have; if I'm not mistaken, he has much more impressive physical tools than JJM. By most experts, he should have been the consensus #1 overall pick in his draft year.

At the end of the day, none of us knows what McCown and KOC feel about these QBs; whatever they decide, I'm going to feel pretty good that it was the right call, because to me they've earned that benefit of the doubt at this point.

 

[GFBfan]

If they lose in the WC round or go to Detroit/Philly and lose by 10 + points in the Divisional round, I don't think it's that hard of a call. They will thank Sam and send him on his way.

How Darnold plays is going to determine his future here, not by what round or by how much the Vikes exit the playoffs.

 

[howeda7]

How Darnold plays is going to determine his future here, not by what round or by how much the Vikes exit the playoffs.

Yes and no. First those things are obviously correlated. But the farther the Vikings advance, the harder it becomes just from a PR standpoint, to let the starting QB walk. If they make the Super Bowl, they probably have to franchise him and bring him back.

Short of that, it's easier to justify sticking to the original plan, even if he plays well in a loss. If as Ogee says, we lose because he gets sacked 6 times or we give up 45 points, well, that kind of shows that we need $$ for the O-line/Defense and probably shouldn't spend $40-50 million on the QB room.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Yes and no. First those things are obviously correlated. But the farther the Vikings advance, the harder it becomes just from a PR standpoint, to let the starting QB walk. If they make the Super Bowl, they probably have to franchise him and bring him back.

Short of that, it's easier to justify sticking to the original plan, even if he plays well in a loss. If as Ogee says, we lose because he gets sacked 6 times or we give up 45 points, well, that kind of shows that we need $$ for the O-line/Defense and probably shouldn't spend $40-50 million on the QB room.

The problem is at least half the league is always looking for interior OL help, along with OT help. Money doesn't always translate into being able to land that kind of help. It sounds great, but those people will be in incredibly high demand.

 

[GophersInIowa]

You might end up being correct, but with Sam's play and our team success, it's not that simple of a decision any more.

We currently have $78M in Cap space for 2025 but KAM has a bunch of our guys that are also FAs that we should try to re-sign:

Darnold
A. Jones
P. Jones
Bynum
Gilmore
Murphy Jr
Tillery
Bullard
KGH

A lot of tough decisions to make on our own guys before we even look at other FAs. Kwesi has earned our trust when it comes to identifying quality guys that fit our budget and schemes.

I'd say it's 50/50 right now that Darnold is back next year. It should be interesting to say the least.

It's going to be interesting. They have a chance to be even better next year. Do you want to go with the guy like Darnold that you know what you're getting or take a chance with the unproven guy?

If they don't spend the money to bring back Darnold, then use that for strengthening the interior OL. And maybe bring back a guy like Daniel Jones to backup JJM if he's willing.

 

[Slim Tubby]

The problem is at least half the league is always looking for interior OL help, along with OT help. Money doesn't always translate into being able to land that kind of help. It sounds great, but those people will be in incredibly high demand.

The 2025 FA class for OL is hot trash, too. OG Tre Smith from KC is a beast but after that, the talent drops immensely. With $50M already tied to Darrisaw and O'Neill, it seems unlikely we spend $20M+ on an OG.

What we really need is some luck finding a stud OG in the mid rounds of the Draft. Easier said than done.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

The 2025 FA class for OL is hot trash, too. OG Tre Smith from KC is a beast but after that, the talent drops immensely. With $50M already tied to Darrisaw and O'Neill, it seems unlikely we spend $20M+ on an OG.

Smith probably gets a contract not far from the top end OT's next spring, considering the demand for services like his.

 

[GopherGrit]

Yes and no. First those things are obviously correlated. But the farther the Vikings advance, the harder it becomes just from a PR standpoint, to let the starting QB walk. If they make the Super Bowl, they probably have to franchise him and bring him back.

Short of that, it's easier to justify sticking to the original plan, even if he plays well in a loss. If as Ogee says, we lose because he gets sacked 6 times or we give up 45 points, well, that kind of shows that we need $$ for the O-line/Defense and probably shouldn't spend $40-50 million on the QB room.

We spent $38.5M on the starting QB this year.

$10M for Darnold, and $28.5M dead money for Cousins.


That's exactly the same thing, in terms of who we can/can't sign due to cap room, as if we had no Cousins dead money and gave Darnold $38.5M.

How can you argue otherwise?

(It's very possible I am missing something easy, and will look dumb )

 

[howeda7]

We spent $38.5M on the starting QB this year.

$10M for Darnold, and $28.5M dead money for Cousins.


That's exactly the same thing, in terms of who we can/can't sign due to cap room, as if we had no Cousins dead money and gave Darnold $38.5M.

How can you argue otherwise?

(It's very possible I am missing something easy, and will look dumb )

I'm not sure what the dead $ is on Cousins, but many of the new guys (Grenard, Cashman etc.) were signed to contracts that push $$ into 2025 and beyond because that's when we finally get fully out from under Cousins. The point is that the blueprint for this team to contend was designed around paying a rookie QB ~$10 million, not a veteran $30-40 million.

 

[GopherGrit]

I'm not sure what the dead $ is on Cousins, but many of the new guys (Grenard, Cashman etc.) were signed to contracts that push $$ into 2025 and beyond because that's when we finally get fully out from under Cousins. The point is that the blueprint for this team to contend was designed around paying a rookie QB ~$10 million, not a veteran $30-40 million.

I took the number for this year from here: https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/minnesota-vikings

Actually, the Vikings had over $71M in total dead money! Including major hits for Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Lewis Cine, Dalvin Cook, and Dean Lowry.

For 2025 so far it's just $3.4M.


So I think you have a fair point, if you're saying some amount of the salary of guys signed this year have lower salaries this year.

But we also have a massive drop in dead money for next year.


I still think paying Darnold the franchise amount for just next year should be on the table and make sense, if they decide to consider that.

This team might only have a Super Bowl window of this year and next year. Who knows if Flores leaves, if Darnold regresses, or if we're able to re-sign everyone we want to re-sign.


Maybe even only this year. Talk about lightning in a bottle!

 

[Slim Tubby]

I took the number for this year from here: https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/minnesota-vikings

Actually, the Vikings had over $71M in total dead money! Including major hits for Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport, Lewis Cine, Dalvin Cook, and Dean Lowry.

For 2025 so far it's just $3.4M.


So I think you have a fair point, if you're saying some amount of the salary of guys signed this year have lower salaries this year.

But we also have a massive drop in dead money for next year.


I still think paying Darnold the franchise amount for just next year should be on the table and make sense, if they decide to consider that.

This team might only have a Super Bowl window of this year and next year. Who knows if Flores leaves, if Darnold regresses, or if we're able to re-sign everyone we want to re-sign.


Maybe even only this year. Talk about lightning in a bottle!

Good post.

 

[Wally]

Bingo. That last question is the big one. They aren’t going to keep JJM just because he is ina rookie contract if they aren’t reasonably sure he is an upgrade from Darnold.

He doesn't need to be an upgrade, he just needs to be reasonably close. If we can get 80% of Darnold it is probably a wash with the 30 million we save.

 

[Ope3]

He doesn't need to be an upgrade, he just needs to be reasonably close. If we can get 80% of Darnold it is probably a wash with the 30 million we save.

Exactly. For the Vikings, a game manager that protects the ball with the weapons around him should be all that is required. That's presuming the defense is solid.

The defense part of the equation is easier to obtain with less cap devoted to the QB.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Exactly. For the Vikings, a game manager that protects the ball with the weapons around him should be all that is required. That's presuming the defense is solid.

The defense part of the equation is easier to obtain with less cap devoted to the QB.

I love that we have one of the best deep passing attacks now; I bet the OG - JJ does as well.

Forget a “game manager”

 

[Ope3]

I love that we have one of the best deep passing attacks now; I bet JJ does as well.

Forget a “game manager”

By "game manager" I am placing emphasis on protecting ball most importantly. Getting it to the Vikings play makers (even down field) doesn't require the QB to be a "gunslinger".

It can happen naturally in the KOC offense regardless of who is taking the snaps. Also helps to have a ground attack that needs to be respected.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

By "game manager" I am placing emphasis on protecting ball most importantly. Getting it to the Vikings play makers (even down field) doesn't require the QB to be a "gunslinger".

It can happen naturally in the KOC offense regardless of who is taking the snaps. Also helps to have a ground attack that needs to be respected.

Thanks for the clarification.

You just hit one of my pet peeves, the game manager’s sobriquet.