The free-agent class of quarterbacks this offseason is an interesting group.
Big names such as Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson are at the top of the list with both younger players and veterans like Justin Fields and Joe Flacco sitting out there on the market too.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes that Darnold is the best free-agent signal-caller available.
“I think Sam Darnold is clearly the best option when it comes to the realistic free agents…You’re not going to win games because of him,” Orlovsky said via “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday.
"I think Sam Darnold is clearly the best free agent Quarterback on the market..
You can win a lot of games with him but I think we learned over the last few weeks that you might not win games because of him" ~ @danorlovsky7#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/8DmlXspif6
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 15, 2025
Darnold had the best season of his career by far this year.
He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after guiding Minnesota to 14 wins as he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and posting a passer rating of 102.5.
However, in the two biggest games of the year in the final two weeks of the Vikings’ season (against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams), Darnold posted a passer rating under 80.0 in both games, threw just one total touchdown, and was sacked 11 times in total across both matchups.
He had a resurgent 2024 season and proved that he could be a quality quarterback for any team that wants him.
However, it will be interesting to see if a player like Aaron Rodgers becomes available depending on what the New York Jets would like to do moving forward.
If he is, teams could be more inclined to pay Rodgers on a smaller deal as opposed to paying Darnold way more money for similar play.
NEXT: Rob Parker Says Vikings Should Move On From Sam Darnold
