It became clear that the Las Vegas Raiders weren't overly high on signing Sam Darnold in free agency with their pursuit of a Matthew Stafford trade. Now that the quarterback is planning to stay in Los Angeles, the Raiders have to go back to the drawing board.
With appealing quarterback options limited in the 2025 NFL Draft, the team may have no choice but to spend a bit of money in free agency. Darnold is considered the best option after leading the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins while throwing 35 touchdowns and being named to the Pro Bowl.
The Vikings may want him back but the Raiders and New York Giants are going to provide competition, according to The Athletic's Alec Lewis.
"League sources believe [the Raiders and Giants] are the two likeliest landing spots for Darnold, but the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers could also vie for Darnold’s services," Lewis wrote. "The amount of money he’s offered will depend on how far ahead of the other available quarterbacks these teams see him as being. Any competition could then bring the franchise tag into play for Minnesota. Trading him for premium draft capital would be the best-case scenario, but another team would have to be head over heels enough to part with picks and pay Darnold a massive sum."
It would be a bold move for general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll to hitch their wagon to Darnold, who was 21-35 as a starter before last season with the Vikings.
