Former Falcons QB Has High Praise for Vikings’ Sam Darnold

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Every Minnesota Vikings’ fan is well aware of how well quarterback Sam Darnold is playing right now. Darnold is firing on all cylinders, in which, head coach Kevin O’Connell has played a massive role in too. Despite fans seeing and enjoying Darnold’s success, main stream media is finally noticing as well.

Potential Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Matt Ryan Compliments Sam Darnold

Not only is main stream media jumping on the Darnold bandwagon now, but long-time great Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan recently appeared on CBS Sports to talk about the success of Darnold. Let’s just say… he’s become a believer in what Darnold and O’Connell are doing right now on offense.

It’s been really impressive. I have this stat yesterday, there’s been four quarterbacks in the last 25 years to start 3-0, throw eight touchdown passes with a new team. Two of those guys won Super Bowls with those teams… He’s in spot where you know he’s playing good football… But Kevin O’Connell has done an awesome job with the quarterbacks that have been in that system.

Sometimes, I know it from my experience, there’s certain coaches that just clear your head up. Clear your head up mentally. Paint this picture for you with the plays that they’re calling with the way they that they teach it that makes it simpler for you. It really seems like Kevin O’Connell has done that with Sam Darnold.

Matt Ryan via CBS Sports

Ryan seems to be in alignment with what a lot of experts and insiders are saying about Darnold right now. However, coming from a potential future hall of fame quarterback is encouraging as well. Ryan understands the nuisances of the game and what it takes for a quarterback to take a team to the Super Bowl.

Is Sam Darnold the best quarterback in the NFL right now?

It’s still early, but Darnold is playing at a very high level. It’s so high, he definitely should be in the MVP conversation as he’s either leading or in the top-3 of all major quarterback statistics.

Of the quarterbacks in the NFL through three weeks, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen seems to be the only one that is giving Darnold a run for his money. If Darnold can continue to stack good performances together week-in-and-week-out, he’ll finish as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Not many Vikings’ fans, if at all, could have predicted that before the season started.

Related: Packers QB Questions are Forcing the Vikings to Prep for Two QBs

Overall, it’s still very early in the season. This Vikings’ team and Darnold can still go in a million directions, good or bad. One thing is for sure though, the Minnesota Vikings need to take it one game at a time and that next battle is against their biggest foe, the Green Bay Packers.

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