Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell may have subtly hinted at the team’s plans for quarterback Sam Darnold during a radio interview before the Super Bowl. While speculation is always risky, O’Connell’s comments on February 7, which initially went unnoticed, have resurfaced and sparked discussion about Darnold’s future in Minnesota.
During an interview with ESPN Radio, O’Connell acknowledged that the Vikings had a clear organizational strategy when they signed Darnold to a one-year contract and drafted J.J. McCarthy. He stated, “There was an organizational plan in place where we wanted to have a guy that we thought we could win football games with while still attempting to draft our quarterback of the future.”
O’Connell went on to praise Darnold’s performance, noting that he led the team to 14 wins and had the best season of his career. He emphasized that Darnold earned the trust of his teammates and coaching staff, but also highlighted McCarthy’s readiness for the upcoming season, saying, “To have J.J. McCarthy now healthy, gonna have a full offseason, I think it’s going to be really exciting. We’ll see how the free agency process works out for Sam.”
This statement suggests that the Vikings anticipate Darnold reaching free agency, although it does not necessarily rule out the possibility of the team negotiating with him. Minnesota has until March 4 at 3 p.m. CT to place the franchise or transition tag on Darnold and until March 10 to work out a contract extension before he can engage with other teams. Free agency officially begins on March 12, when players can start signing contracts.
The key question remains: Will the Vikings stick to their original plan of transitioning to McCarthy, or has Darnold’s strong season convinced them to retain him as the starter for another year? As free agency approaches, O’Connell’s comments have only added to the growing speculation surrounding Minnesota’s quarterback situation.
Leave a Reply