By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Vikings decline franchise tag option for Sam Darnold despite breakout season: report
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Vikings decline franchise tag option for Sam Darnold despite breakout season: report
News

Vikings decline franchise tag option for Sam Darnold despite breakout season: report

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: March 5, 2025 1:16 am
Jimmie Dempsey Published March 5, 2025
Share
SHARE

The Minnesota Vikings are opting against using their franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, ESPN reported. NFL teams had until Tuesday to decide on placing a franchise tag on players. 

Darnold will now be eligible to explore the free agent market when it opens March 12, the official start of the NFL’s new league year. The move does not guarantee Darnold’s departure because the Vikings have signaled an interest in potentially working toward an agreement on a long-term contract, according to reports.

There are several teams who will likely seek to add an experienced quarterback to their rosters during the free agency period, given that this year’s quarterback draft market is widely considered thinner than the 2024 class.

The franchise tag is a lever a team can use each offseason to keep a key player on an expiring contract from leaving while buying time for further evaluation of a long-term deal. But that one-year arrangement comes at a steep fixed price based on the top salaries at a player’s position. 

EX-NFL PLAYER KYLE RUDOLPH DISCUSSES VIKINGS’ QB DECISION, REFEREES, THE SUPER BOWL AND NFL DRAFT GIVEAWAYS

For Darnold, that would’ve been between $35 million and $41 million for 2025, depending on the type of tag.

Darnold led Minnesota to an impressive 14-3 record last season, but the Vikings’ brass is eyeing several spots on its roster for upgrades. The team’s front office used a first-round pick on quarterback J.J. McCarthy in last year’s NFL Draft.

Sam Darnold talks to reporters

Darnold delivered a strong performance in his first season in Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

The Vikings have been busy weighing whether it’s worth banking on continued progression by Darnold in a second season under O’Connell while McCarthy gets another to watch and learn after spending his rookie year on injured reserve while recovering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Sam Darnold and coach Kevin O'Connell

Although Darnold had a breakout regular season, his performance in the playoffs raised concerns. The Los Angeles Rams cruised to a 27-9 win in their postseason matchup with the Vikings. Darnold was sacked nine times and threw an interception in the game.

The Vikings would be in line for a compensatory draft pick in 2026 if Darnold were to sign elsewhere this year.

“I’ve had great dialogue with Sam from the time this season ended up until very recently, and I think my relationship with Sam has grown to a point where the respect level is sky-high,” O’Connell said last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. “Sam is in a position where the NFL thinks he can play quarterback at a high level, so that’s a really good thing. And I feel very proud to be a part of helping him get to this point. We’ll see kind of where it goes from here.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Truck passenger shoots fireworks at car in alleged road rage incident caught on video

Trump-Zelenskyy shoutfest could dissolve support not just for Ukraine but our European alliance

John Cena uses dirty tactics to beat Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, wins historic 17th WWE title

Senate Democrats predicting ‘brutal’ UN ambassador confirmation hearing for Mike Waltz

Texas man who allegedly threatened to kill ICE agents, harm DHS Secretary Kristi Noem ordered to stay in jail

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Jemele Hill returns to ESPN’s ‘Around the Horn’ before show’s cancellation, jokes about previous firing
News

Jemele Hill returns to ESPN’s ‘Around the Horn’ before show’s cancellation, jokes about previous firing

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
USA Fencing transgender controversy escalates at DOGE hearing with social media regrets, calls for resignation
I Carry: Springfield Armory TRP 1911 AOS Pistol in an ANR Design Holster
Charles Barkley expresses concern about how Jordon Hudson is affecting Bill Belichick’s legacy
Biden stumbles over question about Harris’ timetable to win after he dropped out of race
Republican DA bucks blue state’s ‘broken sentencing’ with tough-on-crime approach
DHS defends ICE detainment of Georgia college student who violated traffic laws: ‘Not ignoring rule of law’
News

DHS defends ICE detainment of Georgia college student who violated traffic laws: ‘Not ignoring rule of law’

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
Randy Travis stages stunning comeback with help from AI after devastating stroke
News

Randy Travis stages stunning comeback with help from AI after devastating stroke

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
Amtrak bilked out of M by at least 119 employees, doctors in fraud scheme; many still on the job: report
News

Amtrak bilked out of $12M by at least 119 employees, doctors in fraud scheme; many still on the job: report

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 9, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Guns and Gear
  • Videos
  • Blog
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?