As the NFL offseason approaches, the San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for changes, regardless of their Super Bowl outcome. The Minnesota Vikings are a team looking to make major additions to get back into playoff contention.
The quarterback position has long been a focal point for potential adjustments for the 49ers, especially after the team’s decision to favor Sam Darnold over Trey Lance, culminating in a significant trade last August with the Dallas Cowboys.
Now, with Darnold poised to explore opportunities as a starter elsewhere, recent reports from NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero suggest a potential landing spot in Minnesota, where he could replace current starter Kirk Cousins.
“Minnesota is examining all options in the event that Cousins ends up landing elsewhere. If, in fact, the price tag goes too high, the Vikings would pursue a more economical veteran. One guy who is a possibility: Sam Darnold, the 49ers’ current backup here, hoping that he becomes this year’s Baker Mayfield, while also buying them time to maybe also develop a rookie quarterback.”
Darnold’s journey with the 49ers began with a one-year, $4.5 million deal last March, amidst speculation that he might assume the starting role while Brock Purdy recovered from an elbow injury sustained during the previous NFC Championship.
Drafted as the third overall pick in 2018, Darnold’s NFL career hasn’t quite reached the heights initially anticipated. His tenure with the New York Jets saw struggles amid organizational chaos, resulting in a modest 13-25 record as a starter.
Although he showed improvement during his subsequent two years with the Carolina Panthers, where he achieved an 8-9 record as a starter, the team opted not to retain him, coinciding with a disappointing 2-15 season.
Darnold’s career statistics reflect both promise and challenges, with a quarterback rating of 78.3, accompanied by 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. Notably, CBS Sports ranked him as the third-best backup quarterback in the league in September, signaling his potential value to teams in need of quarterback depth.
While the Minnesota Vikings would likely prefer to find a way to get a younger quarterback that they could build around long-term, Sam Darnold could be a very nice fallback option.
