The Minnesota Vikings had a big problem on their hands two weeks ago.
Some claimed they should not let Sam Darnold walk away because he played like a franchise quarterback.
That meant that J.J. McCarthy’s days at the Twin Cities could’ve been numbered.
Now, with how Darnold played to close out the season, that might no longer be the case.
With that in mind, Danny Parkins and Mark Schlereth debated whether Darnold would get a big-money deal in the offseason.
On Tuesday’s edition of “Breakfast Ball,” Parkins claimed that while Darnold cost himself some money with his play, he could still be in line for a big contract.
.@DannyParkins says the "last 2 weeks obviously cost Sam Darnold" but there's still a possibility he'll get a big contract ?
— @markschlereth disagrees: "I think the 3-year, $100 million Baker contract is out the door. What says he's not going to sign a 1-year prove it deal?" pic.twitter.com/fS6Keag7mO
— Breakfast Ball (@BrkfstBallOnFS1) January 14, 2025
Schlereth, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure about that.
While he acknowledged that Darnold had a very good season, he now thinks that getting a three-year deal worth $100 million, which would be similar to the deals that Baker Mayfield or Geno Smith got, would now be off the table.
Instead, he thinks Darnold will now have to settle for a one-year “prove it” kind of deal somewhere else.
That might not be fair, but that’s the reality of this line of business.
Darnold led the Vikings to 14 wins, and he looked like he could legitimately run a championship-caliber offense.
Then again, he returned to his former self in the season’s most important games.
Given his history and all the footage of his struggles, it’s hard to turn the narrative around.
NEXT: Analyst Says Sam Darnold Is A 'High-End Backup'
