Here are the top 5 quarterbacks Sam Darnold team fits this upcoming offseason. Several reports state it might become difficult for the Minnesota Vikings to bring back the veteran since they still need to see what rookie J.J. McCarthy can do in this offense. Darnold did what he could the entire 2024 campaign on a one-year deal, recording personal bests of 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 102.5. It’s hard to imagine the Vikings would’ve brought back Darnold even if he were to hypothetically bring the team a Super Bowl.
The organization does not deny whether or not they’ll bring Darnold back in the lineup, but it’s likely they’ll stick with McCarthy for the immediate future. However, the stakes were high for Darnold in the wild-card matchup but to no surprise, he didn’t deliver a win when it mattered most. Despite that, the veteran is still a capable signal-caller who should receive plenty of interest as he will only get more experience and better. Darnold might not be a starting quarterback come week one but he may sit behind on the bench waiting for the right opportunity.
Top 5 Sam Darnold Team Fits
Possible Next Teams
New Orleans Saints
The organization understands quarterback Derek Carr is not willing to take a pay cut but they will leave it up to the next head coach to decide on his future. With the Saints on a budget, they should look for a capable quarterback to get the Saints back into the postseason. Rookie Spencer Rattler didn’t do much to help the Saints remain competitive for the 2024 campaign so he’ll need more time to adjust. Perhaps, Darnold is the perfect man in this scenario, he may not make it far into the postseason but he would set Rattler up for the rest of the way if the Saints play their cards right this March.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have their faith in Bryce Young despite benching him for some games last season. However, since Andy Dalton will likely leave, the Panthers should be in the market for a backup. Darnold might be the ideal signal-caller to help grow Young and who knows, Head Coach Dave Canales could switch quarterbacks again and the veteran might have a different outing than he did last time he was in Carolina.
Pittsburgh Steelers
After a disappointing first-round exit, the Steelers have an uncertain future at the quarterback position. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are free agents in March but chances them bringing both of them back are slim. The Steelers are favoriting Fields but they should bring in a capable starter like Darnold to fight for a job. He could produce the same way as long as the Steelers find the right wide receivers to help him adjust to this roster.
Baltimore Ravens
No one is taking MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson’s job as long as he’s healthy and producing well enough to bring in wins and championships. However, since Tyler Huntley left, the team has Josh Johnson who isn’t capable of bringing in at least a couple of wins to keep the Ravens competitive if Jackson goes down. Darnold would be the missing puzzle piece that could provide comfort for the MVP.
Tennessee Titans
Meanwhile, the chances of the Titans trading Will Levis are high considering the disastrous season the team had this past year. With hiring former Kansas City Chiefs assistant General Manager Mike Borgonzi as their new GM, the Titans could have a different type of outcome this 2025. If they want to play it right, they should sign Sam Darnold to a long-term deal and draft a few pieces to establish a legitimate team.
The post Top 5 Sam Darnold Team Fits appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.