Tag-Less Darnold Sets Vikings Up Well for Free Agency

Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

Unsurprisingly, the Vikings held onto their $63 million salary cap room and didn’t put the expensive franchise or transition tag on Sam Darnold.

Tag-Less Darnold Sets Vikings Up Well for Free Agency

It just didn’t make sense to tie up $40.24 million for the franchise tag or $35.38 million for the transition tag on Darnold after his poor performances in the two biggest games against the Lions and Rams at season’s end.

The Vikings brass may have considered a tag and trade, but that was not in the cards due to a lack of interest or concern over Darnold, who then had the leverage to dictate where he was willing to sign a new contract.

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The Vikings are reportedly still negotiating with Darnold — and likely with Daniel Jones, too — on which veteran QB is willing to sign a one-year deal similar to Darnold’s $10 million contract last season (plus incentives).

Darnold was in a sweet position on January 6 when he walked into Detroit’s Ford Field in a career-best season as he had led the Vikings to a surprising 14-2 record.

It was sad to see things unravel from there for the likable Darnold, with his inaccuracy and holding the ball leading to far too many sacks by the Lions and Rams (and his O-line was certainly part of the problem).

Darnold may yet find a team willing to pay him a Baker Mayfield-type deal ($100 million over three years) or better, with the possible teams seeking new QBs to include the Titans, Giants, Raiders, and Browns (and the Jets, but they would not bring back their former first-round pick).

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Darnold and Jones will be competing on the open market with Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Justin Fields (one of whom may re-sign in Pittsburgh), and there’s a good chance Kirk Cousins will hit the market once Atlanta inevitably releases him.

In the final analysis, Darnold will sign a shorter, cheaper deal with the Vikings or elsewhere.

For Vikings GM Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah, it’s back to the original plan when Kirk Cousins was jettisoned last season before free agency. That is to draft a promising first-round QB (which turned out to be J.J. McCarthy), benefit from his inexpensive rookie deal, and use the surplus cap funds to build up a talented supporting cast. And trust an excellent QB-whisperer head coach in Kevin O’Connell to coach up the youngster or the quality vet who signs as a bridge QB, which was the case with Darnold last season and could be the formula with Darnold, Jones, or another free-agent QB in the next couple of weeks.

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That plan calls for the vet to intervene if McCarthy isn’t ready or gets hurt.

It’s good news for McCarthy that Darnold wasn’t franchised, so he can seize the starting job. He or whoever starts at QB should benefit from a better interior offensive line, as the Vikings clearly have the cap room and positive vibes from last season’s success to recruit and sign a couple of top-tier guards and/or a center.

It’s also good news for DC Brian Flores that the Vikings held onto their cap room with the re-signing of corner Byron Murphy, along with either bringing back or replacing the other starting corners from last season who played well for the most part — Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin.

The safety position will be addressed through re-signing Smith and Cam Bynum or newcomers via free agency, the draft, or last year’s backups (Theo Jackson and Jay Ward).

The defensive line also will be a target in free agency to either re-sign starters Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard or sign their replacements.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws the ball under pressure from Minnesota defensive end Jonathan Bullard (90) on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Vikings won the game, 31-29. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

The Vikings have rarely, if ever, had $63 million in cap room to bolster a team that was playoff caliber.

It will be an exciting next few weeks with free agency starting on Monday, and the veteran quarterback decision will be the headliner now that the franchise tag for Darnold is off the table.

Around the NFL Observations:

1. Only two teams used the franchise tag this year, the fewest since 1994. The Bengals tagged WR Tee Higgins for the second straight year (at $26.2 million on a one-year tender), and the Chiefs took perhaps the top offensive guard — Trey Smith — off the market by tagging him for $23.4 million.

2. It was good news for the running backs when the Eagles extended Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley for two years and $41 million, making him the first $20 million back. He deserves to be closer to top wide receiver pay (Justin Jefferson’s $35 million per year), but it’s a step in the right direction for an undervalued position.

Jeff Diamond is former Vikings GM, former Titans President and a former NFL Executive of the Year. He works with the agent firm IFA and does other sports consulting and media work along with college and corporate speaking. You can direct message him on LinkedIn or X—@jeffdiamondnfl