Throughout the playoffs, Sam Wallace, Mark Drumheller, and Jonathan Fuller will be highlighting the biggest NFL free agents heading into the 2025 offseason. We'll be breaking down the best and worst landing spots as well as projecting where key players will eventually sign.

Today's subject? 2024 Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold.

The Best Landing Spots For Sam Darnold in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Do The Rams Make Sense For Darnold?

I have different answers depending on whether this is 'best for his career' or 'best for fantasy football'.

The best outcome for fantasy football is easily for Darnold to stay in Minnesota. Not only does that give him the best chance to retain his spot as a top-10 fantasy QB, but it also raises the floor for important fantasy assets like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson. I'm optimistic about J.J. McCarthy's future, but the range of outcomes is wide for a second-year player who missed his entire rookie season with a serious knee injury. 

The best move for Darnold's career is to sign a big contract with a team that has a good offensive coach and talented surrounding pieces. There isn't an obvious QB-needy team that meets that criteria (and also has the cap space) but there is a dream destination that could open up if their aging veteran decides to retire this offseason: the Los Angeles Rams.

I don't think Sean McVay is interested in rebuilding, especially after hitting on several defensive picks in last year's draft. If Stafford does decide he has had enough after his age 36 season then Darnold becomes a great option to keep their championship window open. Darnold will only turn 28 this offseason and has worked in similar schemes under Kyle Shanahan and Kevin O'Connell the last two seasons which could make him the perfect long-term successor in Los Angeles.

- Jonathan Fuller

The Colts Could Make a Case For Sam Darnold

If Sunday night’s Vikings’ loss taught us anything, it’s that Sam Darnold is very much a “fit-dependant” quarterback. The seven-year veteran and former No. 3 overall pick still requires a very strong playcaller and a strong supporting cast of playmakers around him. That’s a bit problematic in the open market since it’s rare to find a team with deep pockets that already has those dynamics in place. 

Interestingly enough, the Vikings are the rare exception. They have the cap space to keep Darnold in the fold, but I highly doubt Kevin O’Connell puts J.J. McCarthy on ice for a player that seems unlikely to get them to their ultimate goal.

There is a reason Sean McVay broke out the tequila in Cabo when he laid eyes on Matthew Stafford. I’m willing to bet O’Connell learns from his mentor and hands the keys over to the quarterback he drafted with visions of winning a Super Bowl together.

If Darnold is indeed on the move from Minnesota, I think Indianapolis is a solid landing spot. Shane Steichen will likely look for a veteran to compete with Anthony Richardson, and the Colts are not that far off from getting back to the postseason. GM Chris Ballard would have to get creative with the cap, but both sides could be highly motivated to make it work if they view each other as the best potential match.

- Mark Drumheller

Staying In Minnesota Is Best For Sam Darnold

Kevin O'Connell is legitimately the QB-whisperer. For everyone who stuck with Sam Darnold throughout the early years of his career, kudos to you. He's played like an MVP candidate for essentially the entire season while leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record.

It's too bad they have to go on the road to begin the playoffs.

Regardless, the best place for Darnold long-term is right where he is— Minnesota.

He played all 17 games and finished with over 4,300 yards passing and 35 TDs.

 

Yes, I know the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick last spring but you simply cannot let Darnold walk. You just can't. The Vikings are projected to be among the top-10 teams in available cap space so there simply has to be a way for the team and Darnold to come to some sort of semi/long-term deal.

I understand that the new meta in the NFL is maximizing the rookie deal of your young QB but McCarthy qualifies as a unique case. He's already recovering from an injury, had legitimate concerns coming out of college because of how stacked his Michigan roster was, and still hasn't played a single down in the NFL.

When you have a still-young (27), athletic talent like Darnold, you have to be willing to pivot and make it work, especially with where the team is at from a cap space and roster perspective.

- Sam Wallace

The Worst Landing Spots For Sam Darnold in 2025 NFL Free Agency

Move Along, Tennessee Titans …

The landing spot that I would find most disappointing is the Tennessee Titans. I believe Darnold would be a meaningful upgrade on the Will Levis/Mason Rudolph experience, but I haven't seen enough from Brian Callahan to think he is anywhere near the coach that Kevin O'Connell is.

Additionally, the weapons in Tennessee are decent, but definitely a step down from what Darnold had to work with in Minnesota. My fear is that with worse coaching and a downgraded supporting cast Darnold regresses to being somewhere around the 20th-best starting QB in the league. In this scenario, his 2024 breakout ends up being viewed as a fluke and Tennessee has a few seasons where they win between seven and nine games before firing the coaching staff and drafting a rookie in 2028.

Nobody wants to see things play out this way. It would be frustrating for fantasy managers, Titans fans, and Darnold himself.

- Jonathan Fuller

A Return To NY Could Spell Doom for Darnold

Can you imagine Sam Darnold going back to New York? Even if he is returning to play for the Giants, the vibes would be terrifying. Getting a bag to throw to Mailk Nabers sounds like a dream come true, but everything else about the Giants feels terribly wrong for Darnold.

For the record, I believe the Giants draft a quarterback with the third overall pick. Thor Nystrom feels even stronger that they will do everything in their power to make that happen in his 2025 Mock Draft.  That being said, the Giants have historically surprised me on draft day, so I guess anything is on the table.

The biggest challenge with signing with the Giants (or any team at the top of the draft for that matter), is the additional pressure that Darnold would inherit from his new team passing on a potential franchise quarterback in the draft.

Now that Darnold has solidified himself as a viable starter in the league, I’m hoping he can find a team that will commit to him long-term and provide some consistency. Far away from the pressure that would come with a return to New York.

- Mark Drumheller

Again … Sam Darnold Needs To Stay Put …

Honestly, the easy answer here is anywhere that isn't Minnesota. Everything in life is about "fit" and Darnold unequivocally has that with KOC and the Vikings.

To be more specific, teams like the Browns, Giants, and Raiders (or even Jets) could be looking for a bridge QB. The Raiders specifically have the second-most cap space of any team and clearly need a QB. Their inability to secure a top-5 pick puts them out of the Shedeur Sanders/Cam Ward sweepstakes (although they could always take a swing at Jalen Milroe).

Regardless, I wouldn't fault Darnold for securing the bag if the Raiders back up the truck for him, but I would be massively tempering fantasy expectations for him if he winds up leaving Minnesota.

- Sam Wallace

Where Will Sam Darnold Play in 2025?

The Las Vegas Raiders

Based on what we know at this point, the Las Vegas Raiders seem like a logical destination. They need to upgrade the QB position, but they only have the sixth pick in the draft with what looks to be an underwhelming QB class. It would take a ton of draft capital to move up and get one of the top signal callers in this class which doesn't seem smart for a rebuilding team with lots of holes on the roster. They also have the second most cap space heading into 2025 which gives them the means to out-spend everyone else in free agency if it comes to that.

It's also notable to me that Antonio Pierce hasn't been fired yet and if he retains his job heading into 2025, I think it is only more likely they go with a veteran QB over a rookie. That could all change if they fall in love with a prospect during the scouting process, but as of early January Darnold seems like a natural fit. 

I would definitely prefer if the Raiders brought in an offensive-minded coach to build around Sam Darnold and Brock Bowers for the next 5-plus years, but this is the Raiders we're talking about, so I'm not counting on it.

- Jonathan Fuller

As much as I’d like to see Sam Darnold find his way back to San Francisco, I have to agree with Jonathan that the Raiders are the most likely team to land the soon-to-be free agent quarterback.

Las Vegas won too many games for its own good and played themselves out of position to draft one of the top QB prospects. Now, the silver and black will enter the offseason with close to $100 million in cap space and with no viable option under center. 

This is certainly not the ideal landing spot that I think Darnold would thrive in, but money talks in these free-agency streets. I can see Las Vegas overpaying, leaving Darnold little choice but to pack his bags for Sin City.

- Mark Drumheller

Minnesota Vikings

See above.

- Sam Wallace

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