For some of us, that narrative has never made sense. Sam is the best quarterback available, in a QB market that has way more needy teams than it does competent starters. Yet, we’re supposed to believe there isn’t one team out there — out of the Raiders, Browns, Steelers, Titans or Giants — who wants to cut the QB line for Darnold?

Are we talking about the same MVP caliber QB who threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with a 66.2% completion rate last season? Maybe Kwesi should tell other general managers that Sam is only 27 years old, that he is a former No. 3 overall pick and one of the best pure arm talents in the NFL…

Minnesota Vikings unlikely to tag Sam Darnold; Extension gaining steam…

Late Monday, the third Sam Darnold emerged as a much more realistic scenario than what most of us believed previously. According to both Adam Schefter (ESPN) and Ian Rapoport (NFL Network) below, the Minnesota Vikings still do not plan to franchise tag Sam Darnold, but an extension is still possible.

Then Tuesday morning, Rapoport doubled down on his report from Monday night, going on Good Morning Football and stating that the “there is still a possibility that [Darnold] is their starter” next season and that, “one of the really strong options is for Darnold to return to the Vikings on a deal that is a little under the franchise tag”.

The #Vikings are not expected to franchise tag QB Sam Darnold by Tuesday’s deadline, per me and @TomPelissero. But all parties are working through options to potentially keep him in Minnesota.

Darnold, who is set to hit free agency, has a situation best described as fluid. pic.twitter.com/q3A8iGkYEQ

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025

From @GMFB: It's franchise tag day, as #Bengals WR Tee Higgins got his second tag, the #Cowboys are likely to franchise tag DT Osa Odighizuwa, and the #Vikings are not expected to tag QB Sam Darnold, but would like him back. pic.twitter.com/ibDQqKr4wH

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 4, 2025

“Here’s my understanding, and this is something I am reporting with my colleague, Tom Pelissero. [The Vikings] are not expected to franchise tag Sam Darnold today. There is still a possibility that he is their starter [in 2025]. In fact, there are various options here. One of the really strong options is for Darnold to return to the Vikings on a deal that is a little under the franchise tag. The two sides would like to work something out, no doubt.

If Darnold becomes free next week, he will likely be the top QB available. He is for sure going to have suitors. The Vikings would like him back, which would mean by the way, not yet for JJ McCarthy. Obviously, there’s a lot there. They would like to retain Sam Darnold, we’ll see if they’re able to do so.”

Ian Rapoport – Good Morning Football (NFL Network)

WTF is happening…?

This is obviously a very fluid situation. Obviously, these deeply plugged-in NFL insiders are being told by both the Minnesota Vikings and Sam Darnold that an extension is more likely than the franchise tag.

The obvious problem is the extreme 180 degree turnaround vs what we’ve been lead to believe for the last year, that Darnold is a bridge QB to JJ McCarthy and that head coach Kevin O’Connell is ready to hand him the reins, at some point in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Hire New Assistant Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach

So, are these most recent leaks legitimate? Or, are the Vikings hoping to use these reports for something else unexpected? We’ll be here to let you know, as soon as more reporting comes out on the situation.

Still, I thought they would find a way to get trade value for their 2024 Pro Bowl quarterback, even if it meant a bit more risk to the start of their offseason. After all, 27-year-old quarterbacks coming off of 4,300 yard, 29 touchdowns (12 interceptions) and a 67% completion rate don’t exactly grow on trees in the NFL.

But according to the most recent reports, following the league gathering last week at the NFL Combine, the Vikings have not been able to find the trade market they were hoping on Darnold. Or at least, that’s what it appears.

Minnesota Vikings have already informed Sam Darnold of franchise tag decision?

And on Monday, Vikings beat reporter Judd Zulgad (SKOR North) is reporting on Purple Daily that he and Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP) are both hearing the same thing from different sources.

They’re hearing that Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah may have already informed Sam that he will not be tagged before Tuesday’s 3 PM CST deadline. Hat tip to our friends over at The Purple Persuasion, for first finding part of this quote from Judd, and posting it on X.

“The latest word is, and I got a tip on this last night, and I then checked in with our scoop guy, Doogie, who has different sources. And the latest word from both is that the Vikings have either told Sam or have made it very clear they are not going to gag him. I think it’s a lot things.

Like the trade market definitely factors in, but we definitely read that there was also some behind the scenes bristling from the Darnold camp about this because O’Connell had said, you know, that [Sam] deserves to test free agency. And technically, if you franchise tag him and trade him, that’s not it. So it sounds las of right now, like he’s probably going to be allowed to walk.”

Judd Zulgad – Purple Daily (SKOR North)

No excuse if Kwesi fails to tag and trade Darnold

As I on the internet record, the Minnesota Vikings should be able to find a trade partner that is willing to give up a day one or two draft pick next month in order to get exclusive negotiating rights for an MVP caliber quarterback, like Sam Darnold.

If they indeed fail to get it done, that is the latest hit on Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s reputation as a general manager, which already includes a sub-par (to be kind) draft history and disappointing trade scores. Assuming Judd’s sources are correct, and Darnold is about to walk, we will find out how much he is worth next week, when the free agency negotiation period kicks off on March 10.

Related: Vikings Targeting Top Defensive Tackles in Free Agency and Both Get After QBs

If Darnold ends up receiving multiple years with ~$100 million guaranteed, then it will be very difficult to believe a team wouldn’t have taken the chance to trade for a tagged Sam Darnold, who they could have then negotiated a long-term deal with, without any competition to push that price tag up.

After throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 66.2% completion rate, Darnold is scheduled to hit free agency on March 12. In 2024, Sam was a free agent. The Vikings had to bid him up to $10 million, in order to get him here as a bridge starter/high-end backup.

This offseason, it will take at least three times that amount in yearly salary and multiple seasons of guaranteed dollars to land Darnold. Most insiders and projection systems pin his next contract somewhere between $30 and $40 million per year. Unless, that is, he doesn’t make it to the market.

Minnesota Vikings ready for the JJ McCarthy era

Yes, the Minnesota Vikings have 2024 No. 10 overall pick JJ McCarthy on roster. And it’s true, all signs point to him being 100% healthy and ready to take over as starting QB in 2025, likely sooner than later. Thus, the Vikings do not appear interested in signing Sam Darnold to the type of massive contract they weren’t willing to give Kirk Cousins last offseason.

But, that doesn’t mean Darnold is bound for free agency just yet. The Vikings could still slap the franchise or transition tag on the former No. 3 overall pick out of USC anytime between now and March 4, then trade him to the QB hungry team with the highest bid.

Early this offseason, however, there have been a lot of local reporting that suggests the Vikings will not use either the franchise or transition tag on Sam Darnold. The mainstream belief, as of Thursday morning, is that the Vikings will to let him walk to free agency, where they would not be able to benefit from a subsequent bidding war.

Even head coach Kevin O’Connell has talked recently about how the former No. 3 overall pick out of USC “has earned the right to be a free agent”. The other concern floating around suggests that tagging and trading Darnold will not fetch anything better than a day 3 draft pick for the Minnesota Vikings, in return.

The Vikings still have all options available when it comes to Darnold. They could sign him to a multiyear extension. Unlikely. They could franchise-tag him. Possible. They could allow him to depart via free agency. Most likely. Whether or not the franchise tag becomes an option depends on whether another team would be willing to trade for Darnold.

That’s the question: Does that team exist?

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

If the Vikings were to tag Darnold, in the hopes of trading him, and the subsequent offers were underwhelming, that would indeed pose a huge problem for the Vikings. They’d be stuck either stuck with a $40M QB they don’t want or trade compensation that’s possibly less than what they could have received for letting him walk — 2026 compensation pick (likely) at the end of the 3rd round.

Do not believe the anti-tag propaganda

I am here, though, to denounce this anti-tag narrative surrounding Darnold as ludicrous. Instead, I beg those inside TCO Performance Center to see the obvious logic in tagging and keeping control of the most prized free agent asset of the entire 2025 NFL free agent class.

Let’s start with this Dianna Russini (The Athletic) report from Wednesday, where she tells Rich Eisen about the MASSIVE and highly SATURATED market awaiting Darnold this offseason. Not only are teams around the league hungry for better quarterback play, says Russini, they are STARVING.

💻 @DMRussini

Will Sam Darnold find a robust free agency market for his services? And how much intrigue at the QB position is there in the #NFLDraft after Ward and Sanders?#NFL #NFLCombine #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/ies58Aqp30

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) February 19, 2025

Rich Eisen: “What’s THE story heading into the combine, Dianna?”

Russini: “How desperate teams are for a quarterback. That has my attention. As Bill Parcells once said, you never go to the grocery store hungry and there are teams starving right now and I am curious to see how this is going to work out in terms of the Sam Darnold market. I don’t know if this could have played out any better for Sam Darnold.

What is his market truly going to be when we start hearing and seeing meetings and people chatting around the combine about those teams that are going to be interested in him because I feel like Sam is going to have a fat saturated market.”

Rich Eisen Show

So, we know there are plenty of teams around the NFL who are desperate for a good quarterback. Just last week, an NFL GM told Jason La Canfora (Washington Post) that the Vikings “have to tag Darnold. Those guys aren’t stupid.” But for some reason, the NFL world wants us to believe the Minnesota Vikings are stupid enough to let Sam walk for free. I’m not buying it.

Recent QB trades prove Sam Darnold’s worth

This idea that the trade market for Darnold will be a shallow, empty sea with a couple underwhelming offers floating around makes zero logical sense in any offseason QB market, let alone one that is as desperate as Russini claims.

And if there is interest, then the offers should be WAAAAY better than what is being initially reported. Take a look at these recent QB trade examples and what teams have received for dealing away middling quarterbacks, let alone young former 1st round picks with tons of upside. I would argue that not one QB from the list below has a brighter future outlook than 27-year-old Sam Darnold coming off of an MVP-caliber season.

Look at some of these names and compensation. A 34-year-old Russell Wilson, who most believed was a shell of his former self at the time of the trade, fetched FOUR total 1st + 2nd round picks. The Lions received TWO 1sts and a 3rd for 33-year-old Matt Stafford AND got a starting quarterback (Goff) too.

The most comparable (for all the wrong reasons) is Deshaun Watson being traded by the Texans to the Browns before 2022, in exchange for THREE 1st round picks + a 3rd and 4th too. Watson (also a 1st round pick) was the same age as Darnold (27).

Related: BR Pins Top CB as Vikings Must Have Free Agent

The difference? When Watson was dealt to the Browns in exchange for a king’s ransom, he had two dozen civil sexual assault charges pending against him, and had just been cleared by a grand jury on criminal charges.

Darnold, on the other hand, comes with ZERO offield concerns and arguably as much upside. Yet.. the mainstream media narrative wants to convince us that the Minnesota Vikings are concerned they won’t even fetch better than (essentially) a 4th round pick in 2026?

The Minnesota Vikings aren’t stupid enough to let Sam Darnold walk… right?

No chance. I don’t care what the reports say or what top insiders are being told. Not only should the Vikings easily get a 3rd round pick or better in any trade involving Sam Darnold, but history tells us they should get much, much more.

Kwesi should, without a doubt, tag Darnold and demand nothing less that two first round picks from any team that wants him, That’s where negotiations should start. Do not buy this propaganda that tagging Darnold isn’t worth the squeeze when all hard evidence and NFL history tells us a much, much different story.

Related: Vikings Allow More Time to Negotiate with Free Agent CB, Not QB…

The Minnesota Vikings cannot let this opportunity go to waste. The Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl last weekend because they were able to land WR DeVonta Smith, WR AJ Brown, DT Jalen Carter and S Cooper DeJean with the picks they received for trading Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021.

While other teams are desperate for QBs, the Minnesota Vikings are desperate for draft picks, being they only hold only four total picks for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft; yet another reason why Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should be fired for organizational malpractice if he doesn’t tag Sam Darnold.

That’s because, unlike most offseasons, head coach Kevin O’Connell and GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have a huge decision to make over the next few weeks on whether or not to use their franchise and/or transition tags on QB Sam Darnold.

Related: Will the Vikings Let Sam Darnold Walk for Free? NFL GMs and Agents Say No Chance

Their 27-year-old 2024 MVP candidate is due to be a free agent and the MN Vikings don’t want to pay him long-term, after drafting JJ McCarthy with the 10th overall pick last April. That’s what brings these tags into play.

What is the NFL Franchise Tag, Transition Tag?

What is a Franchise Tag in the NFL? When franchise tagged, a pending unrestricted free agent is (essentially) forced into a one-year contract with his incumbent team. His salary is non-negotiable on the franchise tag (average top 5 at position over last five seasons)

What is a Transition Tag? Unlike the franchise tag, a transition tag is only worth top 10 average positional salary and it doesn’t guarantee a free agent returns to his incumbent team. Instead, it basically turns the “unrestricted” designation into a “restricted” one. A transition tagged player’s origin team can match any offer sheet that may come his way next month.

If tagged, the Vikings could keep Sam around for one season, but it would cost about $40 million and make building the 2025 roster much more difficult. But really good QBs in their mid-20’s are next to impossible to find, making both tags intriguing options, even if they’re rarely used most of the time.

Using the tag on quarterback Sam Darnold would be an expensive way of ensuring his return while avoiding a longer-term commitment that would hinder J.J. McCarthy‘s eventual ascension. It could also be a way to elicit additional value by way of a trade, but that would require a knowledge that multiple teams would be willing to bid.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

So, placing either tag on Darnold would allow the Minnesota Vikings time to either (a) negotiate a short-term deal with Sam or (b) negotiate a trade that recoups them some draft capital, for such a high-demand offseason asset. What’s the problem? There is concern that demand for Sam Darnold on the trade market won’t be as high as the Vikings hope.

Minnesota Vikings looking to franchise tag Byron Murphy Jr., not Sam Darnold

That’s why, according to Kevin Seifert (ESPN), the Minnesota Vikings are not expected to use either the franchise tag or transition tag on the former No. 3 overall draft pick out of USC. The longtime NFL insider and current MN Vikings beat writer, reports that Kwesi & Co “seem more likely to let Darnold Sign elsewhere”. If they choose to use their tag, Seifert writes, they’re more likely to use it on pending free agent CB Byron Murphy Jr.

In the end, the Vikings seem more likely to let Darnold sign elsewhere and preserve their tag for a player such as cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024 and is hitting his prime at age 27. If nothing else, it would give the Vikings time to sign Murphy to a longer-term deal while keeping him off the market.

Kevin Seifert – ESPN

Using the franchise tag on Byron Murphy Jr would be a lot more palatable, from a 2025 financial standpoint. Murphy, who is projected by Spotrac to receive $22 million per season (4 years, $88M) in free agency, would get a projected $20 million this season if he plays on the franchise tag.

• Byron Murphy Jr 2024 Stats & PFF Grades: 17 G | 81 TK | 6 INT | 14 PD | 72.8 PFF (72.6 COV)

The Minnesota Vikings have until March 4 to place either tag on Darnold (or any other player). For some context, it’s worth noting that the Vikings have only used their franchise tag three times in franchise history (it was created in 1993).

Safety Anthony Harris was tagged in 2020, Chad Greenway in 2011 and Jim Kleinsasser in 2003. The Vikings have never used their transition tag. NFL free agency officially begins on March 12. The negotiating (AKA: legal tampering) period starts on March 10. Buckle up…

It looks as though the Minnesota Vikings and star-safety, Anthony Harris, will not be able to reach a long-term contract agreement, before the deadline to do so at 3PM CT, today (according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, among others). Anthony Harris has already signed his franchise tender so that’s what he will play under, if a last-second deal can’t be consummated.

July 15

At 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a oneyear contract with his prior club for the 2020 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

NFL Operations

The #Vikings and star S Anthony Harris are not expected to reach a deal prior to the franchise tag deadline, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. Franchise tag deals have been scarce, and this is another example. He’ll play on the tag that is already signed.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2020

Source says there are still efforts as clock ticks down to get Anthony Harris locked up to long-term extension with the #Vikings but it is a long shot. He most likely will play this season under the one-year, $11.441 million franchise tag. Deadline is 45 minutes away at 3 p.m CDT

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) July 15, 2020

Negotiating to the last moment

Harris’ franchise tag is worth one-year, $11.44 million. Yet, both sides still seem intent on, at the least, continuing discussion until the last moment. With both sides appearing so willing, you have to question how far apart the team and Harris are on money and length.

If they do not reach an agreement, Harris will again be a free agent, come 2021. The Minnesota Vikings have already tried to move him in the past. That conversation would certainly continue into the season, if he plays under the tag.

The #Vikings and Anthony Harris are not expected to agree to a long-term deal according to multiple reports

He’ll be a free agent in 2021

The Vikings also tried to trade him to the #Giants back in March per @MikeGarafolo

— Adam Patrick (@Str8_Cash_Homey) July 15, 2020

As we discussed, when Harris signed his tag earlier this year, the Vikings may not be interested in keeping Harris beyond a couple of years. Especially when considering he’s only really had one stellar year, out of the five he’s played.

However, with a very young secondary beyond their two veteran safeties, Harris could be very important in Zimmer’s (who still doesn’t have a job beyond 2020) eyes. If both Harris and Smith play to the same level as they did in 2019, expect the Vikings’ secondary to be beyond scary — no matter how inexperienced the CB’s are.

Just succumbed to a PFF subscription because of this thread…

PFF NFL Safety Rank (w/starting reps):
1. Anthony Harris (MIN) – 91.1
2. Justin Simmons (DEN) – 90.8
3. Harrison Smith (MIN) – 88.4 https://t.co/xNPyfgYVLG

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 8, 2020

Former #UVa safety Anthony Harris snags a big interception for the Vikings. pic.twitter.com/u1tWe1Mkz3

— John Shifflett (@John_Shifflett) January 5, 2020

Jack Kewitsch | Minnesota Sports Fan

Ready for another journey…Just so it’s no question what my expectations are and what type of energy I’m bringing for 2020… ??? Let’s Go!!! pic.twitter.com/ZasJ0yAyes

— Ant Harris (@HOOSDatDude) May 17, 2020

Pretty obvious conclusion here from Anthony Harris’ post, but I’m told the Vikings safety has indeed signed his franchise tender. https://t.co/sOAeLQFKiW

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 17, 2020

Safety, Anthony Harris has officially signed a contract to remain in a Vikings jersey for his sixth consecutive NFL season. He is now set to make $11.44 million on a one-year franchise-tag deal. This isn’t a surprise and might not even be the contract Harris plays under.

Anthony mentions it a bit in his post but multiple reporters have also confirmed that he and the Vikings continue their efforts to work out a long-term agreement for 2020 and beyond, even with the franchise tag now signed.

Post-draft, Harris knows for sure he’ll be in Minnesota in 2020. So he figured no reason not to sign the franchise tender. Goal is still to negotiate a long-term deal. #Vikings https://t.co/LHJrKHEytx

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) May 17, 2020

Next order of business is the Vikings working out a long-term deal with Harris. They have until July 15 at 3 PM. So, there’s still quite a bit of time. https://t.co/t2DqZ7nZPT

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) May 17, 2020

I don’t know that the Vikings have a huge incentive to sign Harris long-term, at this point in time. If they were forced to cut the roster down tomorrow, they’d still have about $10 million to play with entering the season.

With free agency now beyond stale and the draft in the rear-view mirror… I’m not sure why they would want to bind themselves to Harris‘ future unless they find specific use for the extra money. All of that is before you even get into the unknown that still looms for football in 2020.

Plus, I’d think an extension for Harrison Smith would be higher on their priority list if the Vikings were going to use their VERY talented safeties to free up cash… Zimmer himself has mentioned the unlikelihood of spending big long-term money on two safeties.

If you were going to splurge on two players at that position though… you’d do it on Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris who both rank in the top-3 for starting safeties in the NFL, according to PFF.

Just succumbed to a PFF subscription because of this thread…

PFF NFL Safety Rank (w/starting reps):
1. Anthony Harris (MIN) – 91.1
2. Justin Simmons (DEN) – 90.8
3. Harrison Smith (MIN) – 88.4 https://t.co/xNPyfgYVLG

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 8, 2020

I’m just happy to have something semi-breaking to write about again…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

A surprise: the #Vikings have franchise tagged S Anthony Harris, either keeping him in Minnesota or allowing them to trade him. Maybe the top FA safety won’t be free.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020

So Kirk Cousins already got an extension today, that essentially locks him in with the Vikings through 2022 (no matter what outs the contract says the Vikings have), and it also broke, that CJ Ham will be around awhile longer.

Neither of these moves, as the league started wheeling and dealing today, shocked anyone. Sure, Kirk’s extension was far from certain, but the Vikings had been in talks with him, for awhile.

Franchise tagging Anthony Harris, however…. was a shock. Harris was first rumored to be gone for sure, after a draft combine press conference from Mike Zimmer seemed to be shoving him out the door. Awhile later, it was reported the Vikings were trying to find a way to hold onto him… but franchise tagging Harris, was never really a part of the conversation.

To add to the intrigue of this move, Ian Rapoport (who broke this news) is now saying, that the Vikings could be using this tag to find a trade partner for Harris. He called it a “tag and trade”…

From @NFLNetwork: The #Vikings franchise tag S Anthony Harris, keeping him from being free. pic.twitter.com/mivGE2vegt

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020

Who said social distancing would be boring?

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan