The Minnesota Vikings just lost their third game of the season.
Usually, a team that wins 14 games in a regular season shouldn’t have any doubts about their starting quarterback.
That’s not the case in the Twin Cities.
Sam Darnold will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the jury is still out on him.
However, after watching him struggle vs. the Detroit Lions, NFL analyst Rob Parker argued that the game showed just why the Vikings shouldn’t pay him (via FOX Sports Radio).
? @robparkerMLBbro & @Kdubblive debate: Is the Vikings' loss a reflection on Sam Darnold as a quarterback, or does it prove the Lions are the NFL's best team? pic.twitter.com/DpvRGwPzpb
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) January 7, 2025
He stated that teams should not give players big contracts after an outlier year, as they could regret it.
That’s fair, but it’s not like he lost to a bad team.
The Lions have been the best or second-best team in the league all season.
Darnold will still need to prove himself in the playoffs, and what he does there will most likely dictate the narrative around him and his next contract extension.
There’s a strong case to be made for him to get big bucks after his impressive year.
Then again, he’s struggled for most of his career, so some people believe there are more than enough reasons to still have second thoughts and doubts about whether he’s a franchise quarterback.
Still, the Vikings will have to choose between him and a first-year player who suffered a season-ending injury before even making his pro debut, and that’s not going to be an easy call at all.
NEXT: Stephen A. Smith Says Sam Darnold Cannot Be Trusted
