"Two years ago, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold to a one-year flyer so that he could serve as a bridge QB while the team spent a year developing then-rookie JJ McCarthy behind the scenes. Darnold was a revelation in 2024, tossing 35 TDs and leading the Vikings to 13 wins. Then he fell apart in the final two games of that season, including a woeful performance in a wild card loss to the Rams, and the Vikings decided that one year of Darnold was all the Darnold they required."
"They decided wrong. Infamously so. Darnold went to Seattle and immediately won his new team a Super Bowl. McCarthy-and maybe you heard about this-did not. In just one season, Minnesota went from having the best deep passing attack in football to having no passing attack at all."
"The Vikings finished an empty 9-8 in 2025, and yet only a single win out of a playoff spot. So when the team did essentially nothing in free agency this month, they were saying that all they really needed was a QB with a pulse to get back into contention."
The Minnesota Vikings signed Kyler Murray to a one-year deal at league minimum, with Arizona covering the remaining salary. This move came after the Vikings made poor quarterback decisions in recent years. Two years prior, they signed Sam Darnold as a bridge quarterback while developing JJ McCarthy. Darnold excelled in 2024 with 35 touchdowns and 13 wins, but struggled in playoff games. The Vikings chose not to retain him, and Darnold subsequently won a Super Bowl with Seattle. McCarthy failed to perform, leaving the Vikings with a depleted quarterback room. The team finished 9-8 in 2025, just one win from a playoff spot, indicating that acquiring any capable quarterback could restore their competitiveness.
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