The Minnesota Vikings reportedly want to re-sign Sam Darnold but won’t use the franchise tag to retain him, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.
The deadline for teams to use the franchise tag is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET. Were the Vikings to use the franchise tag on Darnold, his salary would be a guaranteed $40.2 million for the upcoming season.
The Vikings and Darnold reportedly remain in discussions about a possible contract.
Darnold, 27, landed in Minnesota last winter on a one-year free agent deal, projected as the Vikings’ interim quarterback, particularly after the team subsequently used a first-round pick on QB J.J. McCarthy.
Darnold won the quarterback job in training camp, during which McCarthy sustained a season-ending right knee injury. In the regular season, Darnold proved to be a revelation, leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record while completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, all career highs. He was intercepted 12 times.
The surprise season earned Darnold a Pro Bowl selection, and he wound up 10th in MVP voting. The Vikings lost 27-9 to the Los Angeles Rams in a first-round playoff game.
Selected third overall by the Jets in the 2018 draft out of Southern California, Darnold had a 13-25 record as the starter over three years in New York. He compiled an 8-9 record for the Carolina Panthers in 2011 and ’22 combined, then saw limited action as a backup for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Overall, Darnold has a 35-38 record as a starter. In 83 NFL games (73 starts), he has connected on 61.2 percent of his passes for 16,383 yards with 98 touchdowns and 68 interceptions.
–Field Level Media
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