Sam Darnold’s Stock Peaking Despite Tough Week 18 for Minnesota Vikings

By Zachary Edwards |

Updated: Jan 7, 2025

Minnesota Vikings, Sam Darnold — Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

After a brutal Sunday night loss to the now NFC North Champion, Detroit Lions. Minnesota Vikings fans cannot help but question Sam Darnold heading into a rematch against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night.

Sam underperformed and underdelivered in undoubtedly his biggest game in purple to date. Posting his lowest numbers of the season in Completion % 43.6 and Passing Yards: 166. While also failing to get the ball into the end zone. The Vikings reached the red zone four times, and only came away with a total of only 6 points.

Tough Vikings performance doesn’t affect skyrocketing Sam Darnold QB stock

Even despite the horrendous performance from Sam Darnold, the Vikings still have the Super Bowl in sight. Approaching a Wildcard Weekend matchup in Los Angeles, the 27 year old quarterback still has a lot going for him.

First, he has the opportunity of redemption. Very rarely this late in the season do you get the chance to right your wrongs of a poor performance in January. The Vikings are still -1.5-point favorites against a Matthew Stanford-led Rams team that got the best of them 2 months ago.

Sam will have another opportunity to prove to Minnesota why he deserves to be the QB of the future. Second, Sam Darnold still led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record while also putting himself in the MVP discussion, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and a 102.5 rating in the regular season. Darnold had 12 interceptions and held a completion percentage of 66.2%, even with that horrendous week 18.

With the expectations that Darnold had from the team, and himself in the preseason, he certainly exceeded them. In the NFL QB Stock Report, he now ranks as the 12th QB, rising from the 28th position that he held at the beginning of the season. His stock is certainly at an all time high, except for those couple of weeks where he was in the top 10. Here’s the snippet about Darnold from that piece by Jeff Howe.

Biggest preseason riser – Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold, on his fourth team in five years, opened training camp as the likely backup to rookie J.J. McCarthy, so expectations ranged from nonexistent to minimal.

Darnold opened the season as the 28th-ranked quarterback, and he rose 19 spots. He’s been a mostly steadying presence for the team that was tied for the third-most wins in the NFL. Star receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison never missed a beat.

Despite the meteoric rise, Darnold did dip for a bit, going No. 11 in Week 10 to No. 18 in Week 12. He still finished the season with his only three weeks in the top 10. Darnold will enter the offseason with the potential to become the crown jewel of the free agent market.
Jeff Howe – The Athletic

He will surely be a hot commodity free agent this offseason as multiple teams desperately look to solve their quarterback issues. One seed or not, Sam Darnold will most definitely see a pay raise from his mere 1-year, 10 million contract this season. Sam is projected to draw in offers valued anywhere between 30 and 40 million dollars a year.

What does the future hold for the Minnesota Vikings?

Coming off one of the most successful seasons ever for a Minnesota Vikings quarterback, Sam is most certainly deserving of a new contract. With rookie J.J. McCarthy and Ex-Giant, Daniel Jones, also in the Vikings QB room, there is no telling what Vikings General Manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has in mind.

Maybe a run for the Lombardi trophy could help solidify his future in Minnesota? Regardless of a playoff push or not Sam has undoubtedly earned himself a payday with his performances throughout the season.

Sam Darnold was dealing on the Vikings' final three possessions after going down by 13 points. Pocket movement, accuracy, decisiveness, total command of the plan. 12 completions, 156 yards, 2 TDs.

He delivered in the clutch for the second straight week. pic.twitter.com/0sxcFOg6aL
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 2, 2024

As we get closer to the draft and free agency begins to take off, Sam’s value will continue to peak. Nevertheless, Sam is about to get paid. Whether that is here or somewhere else, will come down to who wants to open up the checkbook.