When the league's legal tampering period kicked off Monday, NFL free agency was officially a "go." For the Minnesota Vikings, they were about to watch one gigantic domino fall.
Free agent quarterback Sam Darnold was arguably the top player on the market and certainly had his suitors.
One particular quarterback move, especially, was going to impact Darnold's decision. After Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Seattle Seahawks immediately became a quarterbacky-needy team.
As it turns out, that's exactly where Darnold chose to sign.
Sam Darnold agrees to a 3-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks
Darnold is officially leaving Minnesota to sign a $110 million deal with the Seahawks, becoming their immediate plan at the position for the future.
The immediate reaction for Vikings fans might be that this truly means it is J.J. McCarthy time in Minnesota.
If we were judging strictly off of that notion, then I'll give this move a 'C' for the Vikings.
By no means is that a slight to McCarthy, but coming off a serious injury and still not having played NFL regular season snaps, we're not totally sure what this team is going to get. It would be easy to say that, because of everything we've seen in college, throughout practices and camp, and even in the preseason, that McCarthy will end up being just fine.
But, this is truly a league of unknowns, and things can change.
Let's say the Vikings are in on another veteran quarterback; maybe, oh, Aaron Rodgers?
That's not a move that would come without emotion for this fan base. Everybody would be feeling some type of way. But, if the Vikings did go out and sign a veteran quarterback capable of starting, then this move gets bumped up to a 'B.'
It's hard to give a concrete grade in a situation like this, especially considering the circumstances with McCarthy's health and the fact that Darnold finally just had a strong season in the NFL after seven years.
For now, we'll leave it as a solid 'C' in hopes McCarthy can take the reins and run with them.