What's Next for Minnesota Vikings Following Sam Darnold Landing With Seattle Seahawks

Contributing Sports Writer

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The Minnesota Vikings entered the NFL offseason with question marks at the quarterback position. Would they bring back Sam Darnold? Could J.J. McCarthy end up receiving the keys to the franchise?

One of those dominoes has now fallen. Darnold has landed a massive new contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Now, the question becomes, what is next for the Vikings?

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McCarthy could end up getting the starting nod. After being drafted with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Minnesota might be comfortable with him being the lead guy in 2025.

However, the season-ending injury that McCarthy suffered during the preseason did not allow him to get as much work in as a rookie as the Vikings would have liked.

Another option for Minnesota could be signing a veteran bridge quarterback.

Names like Jameis Winston, Daniel Jones, and potentially even Aaron Rodgers could surface. Rodgers seems to be the least likely option, but either Winston or Jones could be brought in.

More than likely, the Vikings will bring in another quarterback. McCarthy will be given every opportunity to earn the starting job, but Minnesota needs to bring in competition for him.

Jones certainly seems like the most likely scenario. He spent the second half of the 2024 season with the Vikings and knows the system. Bringing him back to start for one year or even half of the 2025 season could be enough.

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At this point in time, McCarthy is a completely unknown player as far as what he will bring to the field. In his final season with the Michigan Wolverines, he led his team to a national championship win. McCarthy completed 72.3 percent of his pass attempts for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

There is no question that he has starting potential for the future.

Minnesota will simply have to decide how much they trust him to be ready in year two. It's likely that the Vikings will at the very least take a look at some free agent options.

Losing Darnold was always the expected outcome. Minnesota was never going to offer him a huge long-term contract to return. With that scenario now a reality, it seems very likely that they will sign a free agent and let that free agent compete with McCarthy for the starting job.

Expect to hear more news about the Vikings' direction in the near future.

For more on the Vikings, head to Newsweek Sports.