The reports have been all over the place in recent days as the start of free agency looms, but now there's something more definitive as the weekend before the "legal tampering period" gets going. As first reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Saturday morning, the Minnesota Vikings are not expected to re-sign quarterback Sam Darnold.
Pelissero noted the Seattle Seahawks trade of Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders as something of a tipping point for Darnold not coming back to the Vikings. On that note, reports immediately after news of Smith being headed to Las Vegas suggested Darnold is the No. 1 target for the Seahawks.
Darnold had the best season of his career last season, throwing for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a 102.5 passer rating as the Vikings won 14 games. A dismal final two games, the regular season finale against the Detroit Lions and the Wild Card Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams, fostered an idea the "real Darnold" had surfaced.
Minnesota Vikings set to start J.J. McCarthy era with Sam Darnold gone
Subsequent reporting from Pelissero and his fellow NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo pointed to the Vikings possibly retaining midseason addition Daniel Jones as J.J. McCarthy's backup. with McCarthy's time possibly (and obviously) coming "sooner than later" per Pelissero. McCarthy missed his entire rookie season last year due to a preseason knee injury, but he is on track to clear for offseason work.
Rapoport and Garafolo have added another name to the list of veterans the Vikings could consider signing. Garafolo reported Aaron Rodgers "could be in play" for Minnesota, and Rapoport listed the Vikings as a "dark horse" for Rodgers as the New York Giants are also an option for the four-time MVP.
Darnold not coming back to the Vikings is ultimately not that surprising, even if the Seahawks trading their starter served as the move to push it all the way to happening. He was going to have options, and Seattle truly helped the Vikings solve their quarterback dilemma by moving in a definitive direction with their own (now-former) starter.