Las Vegas has been connected to Vikings’ quarterback
The Las Vegas Raiders have been connected to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency. Here are some pro and cons of the Raiders’ signing him:
Pros
He could be long-term answer:
Darnold won’t turn 28 until June. So, he could be with the franchise for the foreseeable future. That’s not the case for most of the other veterans available this offseason. So, that’s an intriguing aspect of a Darnold pursuit.
Could be best option:
For the most part, Darnold had the best 2024 season of all of the available quarterbacks. He was very good for the Vikings for most of the year as he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. There is a chance he has figured it all out and will be a plus starter for the foreseeable future.
Smart player:
Darnold is known for being a smart player and a strong leader. He could make a nice pair with new Raiders’ offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
Cons
Is he really a good player?
It’s a fair question. Yes, Darnold, in total, had a strong 2024 season. But he struggled in Week 18 (which was for the NFC North title and No. 1 seed in the playoffs) and in a Wild-Card loss. That harkened memories of the first six NFL seasons. Had he not nosedived in the two critical late games, the questions about Darnold would be less intense. But the shadow of doubt does now exist.
He won’t be cheap:
Regardless of the questions about him, the likelihood that Darnold cashes in big somewhere remains strong. Yes, the Raiders are projected to have the second most salary-cap room in free agency this year. But if they give Darnold, day, a three-year $100 million plus deal and he fails to deliver, it will be painful and could delay overall team growth.
Is he a system fit?
When a quarterback such as Darnold has a random strong year, it’s fair to wonder if it was a fluke or if it was because of the system. Yes, Darnold flourished under Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota last year. Yet, of the Raiders sign Darnold he doesn’t get to bring O’Connell with him. Maybe he’s just a better fit for O’Connell than Kelly or any other coach. It’s a legitimate concern.
Conclusion:
Adding a quarterback is always risky. Free agency is often risky. And this would be an extremely risky move. The pay off is huge, but if Darnold doesn’t work out, it would be a big blow to the Pete Carroll-John Spytek era. So, this would be a roll of the dice.