As of Friday morning, there was no sign that the Minnesota Vikings would use the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold earlier than Tuesday’s deadline. Thus, Darnold may start talking with different groups when the free-agent negotiating window opens on March 10 except he indicators a take care of the Vikings earlier than then.
For a chunk printed Friday morning, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz shockingly predicted that Darnold will rejoin the New York Jets someday subsequent month.
“The thought appears ridiculous,” Schatz wrote. “Darnold going again to the Jets — the group that just about destroyed his profession? However the issue with inserting Darnold on a brand new crew is that you simply need to match him with a franchise the place the offensive coordinator will run an offense just like what Kevin O’Connell had for him in Minnesota. …Jets coordinator Tanner Engstrand looks like an excellent match due to the way in which the Lions used under-center play-action when Engstrand was [Detroit’s passing game coordinator under former Lions OC Ben Johnson.] The Vikings had the quarterback below heart 34% of the time this previous season, whereas the Lions had been at 36%.”
The Jets want a brand new QB1 after they knowledgeable Aaron Rodgers he will not be welcomed again for one more season, and Darnold is about to develop into the highest signal-caller in free company. In fact, outsiders do not know if Darnold would welcome a return to the New York/New Jersey market after he famously noticed “ghosts” throughout his Jets tenure that ran from the 2018 draft till he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in April 2021.
Some have lately linked Darnold with the New York Giants. If Darnold is open to enjoying dwelling video games at MetLife Stadium once more, maybe he’d contemplate signing with the Jets for the reason that regime that “almost destroyed his profession” is now not related to the franchise.
It is also price noting that Darnold could not have many perfect touchdown spots obtainable to him this offseason. Reviews have indicated the Pittsburgh Steelers would run it again with Justin Fields or Russell Wilson fairly than meet Darnold’s asking value. Maybe the Las Vegas Raiders may pivot to Darnold in the event that they strike out in pursuing Los Angeles Rams starter Matthew Stafford. Nonetheless, the Raiders may take Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders because the sixth general choose within the 2025 draft.
If nothing else, a Darnold-Jets reunion would make for one of many extra fascinating tales of the NFL offseason.
