Vikings QB Sam Darnold Predicted to Sign Eyebrow-Raising Contract

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold might have cost himself some money over his last two games of the season, but far from all of it.

It remains unclear whether Darnold will be back in Minnesota next season or land elsewhere via free agency, which he can explore come mid-March if the Vikings don’t extend him before then. Regardless of who Darnold signs with, his career campaign in 2024 will pay him better than ever before in his seven-year NFL tenure.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) ranked Darnold as the ninth-best free agent heading into the offseason and projects that he will sign a three-year contract worth $41.25 million annually ($123.75 million in total with $70 million fully guaranteed).

“The debate surrounding Darnold in the 2025 offseason will likely focus on whether he can be more than just a bridge quarterback,” PFF wrote. “While his raw stats look impressive … his performance in key areas is more mixed, with 31 big-time throws balanced by 21 turnover-worthy plays.”

Darnold should have a strong market if he becomes a free agent — not only because he threw for north of 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns, but also because the draft and free-agent classes are unusually weak

Only two collegiate quarterbacks have first-round grades, and the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns who pick at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, are both in need of signal callers.

As such, franchises like the New York Giants (No. 3), Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6) and New York Jets (No. 7) may all be interested in adding Darnold depending on how their offseasons play out. Teams later down the board, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21) could also be interested.

According to PFF’s ratings, Darnold is far and away the highest-ranked quarterback on the free agent list, with Justin Fields coming in a full 10 spots later at No. 19 overall