Sam Darnold...
Probably the biggest surprise of the 2024 Season as a Top 5 QB that is having a Pro Bowl year! Former 2018 #2 Overall Draft Pick, Sam Darnold, has bounced around from Jets, Panthers, 49ers & now Vikings where he is one win away against the Lions from securing #1 Seed in the NFC!
To some, Sam Darnold's performance this season is no surprise as he has always had an elite talent at the QB position, but he just hasn't been able to showcase it in the early stages of his career or maybe the organizations failed him. There were numerous times that I've heard that he looked like the best QB during training camps with not only with the Panthers but even when he was with the 49ers in 2023, there were numerous reports that he looked better than Trey Lance & Brock Purdy...however, it's hard to jump in front of the line at the NFL level when you have a first round draft pick (Trey Lance) & Brock Purdy who just led the 49ers to a Super Bowl.
Fast forward to 2024 Draft to where the Vikings drafted JJ McCarthy in the 1st Round to where you would think the former Michigan QB who just won the NCAA National Championship would come in and become the new franchise QB...well you thought wrong. I am a firm believer in that things always happen for a reason and JJ McCarthy's preseason injury was very unfortunate and we can only hope that he can fully recover and make a comeback to the NFL, but will that be with the Minnesota Vikings in 2025?
The small sample size we saw in JJ McCarthy in training camp & preseason looked very promising to where it looked like the perfect fit that the Vikings were looking for. However, things didn't go after planned but Sam Darnold has stepped in to where I don't think you can go back to JJ McCarthy in the 2025 season. I don't even think you can call it a competition heading into training camp because Sam Darnold has not only played at a very high level, but he has become a leader for the organization and should be extended as their future franchise QB.
Now what do you do with JJ McCarthy? He can stay and develop over the next 3-4 years with Vikings or you can trade him to another team who is in need of a QB1 such as Raiders, Browns, Giants, & Jets or maybe a team who could have their QB be on verge of retirement such as Aaron Rodgers(Jets) or Matthew Stafford(Rams).
If I'm any of the the teams with Top 5 pick in 2025 draft, I am calling the Vikings GM and proposing a trade for JJ McCarthy with 2nd & 3rd Round picks so I can utilize a first round pick on a different need. Just think of the benefits from that move. You get a young QB who is use to winning at the college level who got to basically medical redshirt his first year in the NFL and already proved in preseason that he can play at the NFL level. Slam dunk move if you ask me...
