When the Minnesota Vikings open their regular season against the New York Giants on Sunday, it will officially mark the dawn of a new era.
No longer will the Vikings trot out Kirk Cousins under center, nor will it be first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy. While it wasn't always the ideal scenario in the minds of Vikings fans, it will be veteran Sam Darnold getting the nod for Minnesota.
If Darnold's teammates have anything to say about it, the former no. 3 overall pick is in for the best season of his career. Specifically, fellow first-year Viking and starting running back Aaron Jones believes Darnold is not only the man for the job, but reminds him of a former Green Bay teammate.
Jones told Minnesota's FOX9 that Darnold reminds him of both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love.
"You talk about being able to spin the ball, come in and command a huddle and being a true leader, he’s right there with those guys," Jones said.
That's a bold statement to make about a quarterback that's on his fourth team in seven seasons, but maybe it's taken a bit longer for Darnold to bust loose and the best really is yet to come. After all, he wouldn't be the first quarterback to take several years to break out.
Just ask Geno Smith.
As for straight-up comparing Darnold to a pair of Packer quarterbacks? That's something we'll allow. Mentioning a division rival in a positive light is one thing, but as long as it's a healthy comparison that reflects well on the Vikings, then so be it.
Still, it would have been preferable to hear a comparison to quite literally anyone else, if we're being honest.
It had to be the Packers.
Aaron Jones believes Sam Darnold will win a major NFL award this season
If Darnold turns in a performance even close to that of a Love or Rodgers type of season, there is no doubt he'll receive national recognition. Is there a chance he could be in for some NFL hardware at the end of the season?
Jones thinks so.
"He can really play. I’m calling it now, Comeback Player of the Year," Jones went on to say.
For anyone to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year, that player would have either needed to return from significant injury, poor play or not playing the previous year. Darnold certainly qualifies in that respect, having only started one game for the 49ers last year and coming into this year with a career starting record of just 21-35.
Hopefully, head coach Kevin O'Connell and his quarterback-friendly system pans out for Darnold in a way that he's able to keep the Vikings on the scoreboard regularly, while Brian Flores' defense puts the clamps on the opposition.
There's no doubt Flores has the chops, defensively. So, it's all on the shoulders of the former USC standout to finally come through in Year 7.