The Minnesota Vikings found themselves in a difficult spot at the quarterback position heading into this season, and despite a 5-0 start and a 5-2 record heading into Week 8, the franchise's future under center remains muddled and an open question.
Sam Darnold started out hot but has cooled off over the last three weeks, which included two Vikings' losses and a bye. Darnold is still among the better performing QBs in the NFL through Week 8 with 1,610 passing yards, 14 TDs and 5 INTs on better than 67% passing.
However, Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus projected on Wednesday, Oct. 30, that the Vikings will lean into No. 10 overall pick J.J. McCarthy as the QB of the future after a knee injury sidelined him for his entire rookie campaign in 2024.
Darnold hasn't been incredible, per se. He still sits 16th among qualified quarterbacks in PFF overall grade, not to mention 14th in adjusted EPA per play. Those numbers reflect more of a league-average quarterback, and given how much the Vikings invested in McCarthy, that's probably not worth retaining.
In light of the aforementioned weaker free-agent quarterback class, Darnold will likely fetch a deal worth at least $15 million per year, likely to be a team's either QB1 or competition for a younger starter. In turn, Minnesota should simply turn to the cheaper McCarthy, if for nothing but to see what he's capable of. After all, the Vikings took him [10th] overall and have touted him as their quarterback of the future. That's what the 2025 season is about determining.
Locker's suggested strategy would put the Vikings back in the market for a veteran quarterback this offseason, likely one to start next year behind McCarthy but who could also provide a safety net if he gets hurt again or struggles mightily.
Which QB that might be is hard to say, though a player like Joe Flacco could fit the mold if he remains in the league and doesn't re-sign with the Indianapolis Colts for the 2025 campaign.
