Vikings Favorites Acquired $160M Super Bowl-Winning QB

The Minnesota Vikings quarterback room could look exactly the same next season at the Nos. 1 and 2 spots on the roster, or it could be wildly different. In any case, either Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy is certain to remain on the roster. But the oddsmakers believe that Darnold is far more likely to depart based on where they project QB Matthew Stafford will land should he leave the Los Angeles Rams, which is looking more and more likely after L.A. gave Stafford permission to speak with other teams as free agency approaches. On Feb. 20, SportsBettingAG projected Minnesota as the most likely landing spot for Stafford should the 37-year-old swap teams ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Vikings had odds of plus-300, following the the New York Giants at plus-400 and the Las Vegas Raiders at plus-500.

The Rams are looking to trade Stafford, which could lead to a situation in which the Vikings franchise tag Darnold and then work out a deal to trade him to Los Angeles. Stafford has two years remaining on his $160 million contract, while Darnold has a market projection of four years at $160 million if he hits free agency unencumbered next month. Darnold is 10 years Stafford’s junior and is coming off a more statistically productive season. That said, Stafford has made more Pro Bowls and has played in and won a Super Bowl, while Darnold was considered a draft bust (No. 3 overall in 2018 to the New York Jets) until his breakout campaign in Minnesota in 2024.

Stafford has thrown for more than 59,800 yards and 377 TDs in his career, and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell served as Stafford’s offensive coordinator in Los Angeles when the Rams won the Super Bowl following the 2021 campaign. Adding Stafford on a short-term contract in Minnesota in 2025 would allow him one more chance at a title run, while also affording McCarthy more time to develop as the Vikings’ quarterback of the future.