Sam Darnold is surprising a lot of experts with his play this season. Brought in on a one-year deal by the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold was inked into a starting role when rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season with a knee injury.
Many analysts expected him to struggle in Minnesota. Still, Darnold has the Vikings offense humming and the team sitting on top of the NFC North with a 2-0 record that includes an upset victory over last season's Conference Champions, the San Francisco 49ers.
Two games are a small sample size, but Sam Darnold is making the most of his opportunity despite his past struggles and looks to be a capable quarterback on a talented team that could continue to find ways to win.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold compared to former No. 1 NFL Draft pick
Sam Darnold's recent play with the Minnesota Vikings has some analysts and media figures excited to see what the future holds for the former USC standout. A renewed excitement in his career has one particular media figure thinking he could have a similar path to another former first-round pick who many people gave up on.
Recently, PFT Commenter said that "Sam Darnold is our Baker Mayfield of this year." While there is a lot to unpack from that short statement, it is safe to assume that he means that Darnold could have a similar career resurgence like Mayfield had when he took over for Tom Brady with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) September 16, 2024
Make no mistake that a resurgance year from Darnold would be excellent, but the Minnesota Vikings future past this season likely does not include the Vikings' current starter as part of the offenive game plan.
Minnesota seems committed to Michigan standout J.J. McCarthy, who should be ready for when the 2025 season rolls around. By that time, Darnold's contract will expire and he will likely be a high-end backup somewhere in the NFL that doesn't mind paying a premium price for him.
Still, it would be awesome if Darnold can have a Mayfield-type year this season. Last year, Cleveland's former No. 1 pick enjoyed career-highs in nearly every statistical category while leading the Buccaneers to a 9-8 record and a playoff berth.
If Darnold can help the Minnesota Vikings reach the playoffs this year, it would be a huge achievement and a great achievement for a player many may have given up on. Let's hope he can continue being the type of player fans saw in the first two games of the season.