How Long Should Sam Darnold Start?

Please comment below one word you associate with Sam Darnold - I'm trying to see something. We'll talk about when Darnold should yield the job to J.J. McCarthy, as well as his journey to the NFL and Minnesota Vikings.
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[@richardsmith3772]

Why should Vikings ever move on from a successful 26 your old Sam Darnold? In fact, if Sam Darnold blossoms in the Vikings environment why couldn't he be the franchise QB? The chances that Sam can be a top 5 or 10 QB is better than JJ turning out to be a generational talent. The Vikings are much closer to a SB than they have ever been in the recent past with Sam. They should be jumping for joy!

[@robe2504]

I agree. What if Darnold is just better than JJ? Not just right now, but starting the 2025 season, and 2026?

[@TristanandIsolt]

@@robe2504 If Kirk didn't get injured last season we would already be champs.

[@husengyang5437]

Sam Darnold: overcoming "hardships".

[@LazyTelevison]

Legend He should start the whole season.

[@baddadjoke2197]

Ghostbuster

[@baddadjoke2197]

28:40 Lol, nailed 2/3 in one word.

[@robe2504]

Darnold only turned 27 last week - I'd argue Sam's still very much a wild card and has more in common with Kirk Cousins when the latter arrived at the Vikes than any bridge QB. Geno Smith was 32 when his renaissance began. Baker went from 1-6 starting at the Panthers with CMC to beating Kirk and the full strength Vikes at US Bank in his first start for the Bucs in the 2023 season opener. How much of a difference does situation make? Darnold regained the start at the Panthers, after Baker was cut, and CMC was traded, and had Brady and the Bucs on the ropes down 14 at the half in the game that ultimately decided the division. Darnold's defence caved in the second half, and conceded 200 yards and 3 TDs to Brady and Evans. Kirk was 30, coming off 3 opening seasons backing up RGIII which were awful - 2 wins and 7 losses, 19 INTs and 18 TDs, and a completion rate of 52% in his 5 start season. Kirk then reeled off three 7 or 8 win seasons a Washington, then three more 7-8 win seasons with the Vikes with one 10 win exception. Kirk had 1.5 seasons with KOC (JJ & TJ) and was suddenly recognised as a quality QB. Previously he was widely considered the reason the Vikes would never win a SB. Sam's 4th and 5th seasons resulted in a composite 8-9 record for the Panthers - who have been 5-28 these past 3 seasons when he hasn't played. Sam is coming off a year backing up Purdy, but looked very efficient in his two appearances for the 49ers. There is more to that. So Sam is arriving at the Vikes, 4 years younger than Kirk, coming off similar middling results with a struggling roster to what Kirk had. Now Sam gets the benefit of JJ, Addison and TJ making him right, a HC that understands QBs, and a much better O Line. Kirk loses all that. Will Kirk take a minor step, at 36 coming off an injury, back to the 7-9 win QB he was before KOC, and JJ/TJ? Will Sam take a minor step up and become a 10-12 win QB now that he is in a much better situation? I think folks have been very quick to set aside their priors on Kirk, and equally slow to give up their priors on Darnold. I would not be surprised to see Penix start much, much sooner than McCarthy.

[@richarddean3154]

We want Darnold to start the whole season. This would mean that he is performing well enough to allow McCarthy to continue learning the offense and the nature of the NFL game. It would also hint at the rest of the team performing adequately as well - the defense in particular. I would like to see McCarthy in 2025 after Darnold takes the Vikings deep into the playoffs but asks for too much money to sign him. What is much more likely is that the Vikings will go 1-7 and then start JJ, who will go promptly go 2-7.

[@JordanSilveira23]

How funny Luke, when you asked for one word my immediate answer was "backyard baller", which clearly wasn't a single word. However it still is salient, Sam Darnold has always excelled being an unorthodox creator who creates his way into mayhem (in dysfunctional places) and also into success (in more properly operated situations) So the one word? Backyardigan 😂😅

[@LockedOnVikings]

that's more apt than what you'd usually get, but sadly not really the narrative

[@baddadjoke2197]

Uniqua approves this message.

[@julianvanlanker1686]

One word potential

[@martyandjennsiemens1775]

Potential

[@ALexMcDunny]

Solid

[@hectormedina763]

Redemption

[@thomasnyman5530]

resurrection

[@michealblake2253]

Another nugget is he played linebacker his 1st two seasons in high school

[@KMn048]

Mono

[@sixshooternationgaming2039]

One word for Sam darnold journeyman.. and how long would he stick around as long enough to make the coaches kick Nick Mullens off the team 🫡 salute #SKOL

[@robe2504]

Better Sam has got better. What if Sam plays better than Kirk? What if Sam is just better than JJ period? Sam has been much more efficient and consistent these past two seasons. (4-2, with 7 TDs and 3 INTs in 2022). Sam might be better than Kirk. (3rd overall, compared to 4th round). Kirk had a rough start too, arguably worse than Sam). What if Sam is better than JJ? (everything you can say about the Vikes being an ideal situation for JJ also applies to Sam). I'd recommend watching 2021 week 4 when he went down narrowly to Dak in Dallas, or 2022 week 17 when Brady & Evans needed a record breaking 2nd half comeback in Tampa, in a game that ultimately decided the division.

[@handyandy7119]

Acceptable

[@ronaldjones370]

Opportunity for both

[@jermainelee1060]

I think donald is going go out there an have an amazing season 4 thousand yards 32 touchdown type season watch

[@siorcmor8480]

Welcome!

[@daviddidder3781]

Darnold in one word…. “Umm”. 😂😂😂😂

[@daviddidder3781]

@@oel734 Darnold is “umm” champ (honorable mention “ya knows” too).

[@rosshammarstedt9843]

Besides Geno Smith, who else has overcome rocky start to their career and had at least Geno's level of success?

[@andrewfuryk7362]

Rich Gannon, Alex Smith, Jim Plunkett, Mike Vick worked his way back from Prison Tannehil had a couple really nice years in Tennessee. Its not super common but it happens to enough to believe Darmold can put a good season together for us.

[@robe2504]

How about Peyton Manning and Kirk Cousins?

[@MrPhishhead419]

Circumstance

[@mgtow-balance3409]

redemption!

[@josephstene3035]

HOPE!

[@franknorth164]

You start Sam Darnold until JJ McCarthy is ready. Good or bad. Unless he’s playing lights out and the team is piling up wins.

[@jimbo92107]

Your main criticism of Darnold appears to be that he's so physically gifted, he just assumes he can walk out there and win. If that sounds familiar, it's the same criticism pundits now have of Caleb Williams. Why bother learning the playbook, when you can just go out there, play super sandlot hero ball, and maybe even win that way in the NFL? That also sounds like Fran Tarkington. Drove Norm Van Brocklin crazy, but Bud Grant loved it. Thing is, the whole offense has to buy into that style, and they have to practice scramble drills outside the called play. Will the Vikings do that for Darnold?

[@LockedOnVikings]

I didn't try to make it a criticism - it's an explanation for why things didn't work out in New York. Darnold did prefer to go schoolyard too much, but I don't know if that still applies now that he's entering his 7th season. That worked great for the odd outlier like Tark (or Mahomes) but that's because there was more method to their madness. The schoolyard thing gets a lot less cute on your 4th turnover of the night

[@evans.1448]

Opportunity

[@dariantrevino5944]

Wildcard

[@tommygreenthumbs]

One word: untapped

[@robe2504]

Great word! Just waiting for KOC and Jettas to set him loose.

[@antonsmith1187]

Rebirth

[@EliteAmerican1776]

Darnold should start and finish the season lets see the new guy should want to sit n learn without being thrown to tbe wolves period

[@TristanandIsolt]

My best guess is McCarthy is a better QB than Darnold right now.

[@soberaddict2275]

Ghosts

[@MnJaLo]

Bridge

[@jamisonking3613]

"Unknowable"

[@phaetonevl]

Interceptions

[@robe2504]

So 2021.

[@ToppCuber]

Journeyman

[@MattDawgGaming]

Sam Darnold: schroedingers QB

[@thomasboyce9751]

ANCHOR-MAN

[@ericm9305]

starter

[@TwoToedSloth]

Mononucleosis

[@TwoToedSloth]

Also GEQBUS

[@ALexMcDunny]

Stud

[@vikings540]

Hair

[@legocam96]

Crapshoot?

[@joshuawilliams2447]

One year nun more🤣

[@danolson5330]

misfortune

[@kelseyooo4435]

GEQBUS

[@goose9917]

Jägerbomb

[@SHAUNXTWINOO]

one word i would associate sam darnold with is terrible don't start him we start JJ week 1

[@TristanandIsolt]

Answer to the question. Zero weeks. How long will he start? Probably 5 weeks.

[@robe2504]

I'd bet Sam starts more like 25 games.

[@TristanandIsolt]

@@robe2504 Good luck doing that on a one year contract. WTF would you think Darnold will outplay McCarthy?

[@robe2504]

@@TristanandIsolt Jefferson was on a one year contract 3 days ago, now he's here for 5 years. Players can be extended. The same reason that Sam was drafted at pick 3. And for all the same reasons that folks think McCarthy can succeed in Minnesota. Try watching some recent film of Darnold - I'd recommend 2023 week 16 49ers vs Ravens, or 2021 week 4 Panthers vs Cowboys. Not cherry picking, just showing Darnold against top teams, at times under pressure, making some mistakes, just playing QB. He can play, at least as well as Cousins. He does a lot of things better than Cousins ever could - he's just never been put in a position to succeed, until now. Some folks just struggle to get past their memory of him at the Jets, but happily forget that Cousins first 3 years at Washington were even worse than Darnold at the Jets. Have you noticed how all the Vikes beat writers are surprised at Darnold all the time? They've already noticed the absolute gulf between Sam and JJ right now. I doubt that closes any time soon.

[@TristanandIsolt]

@@robe2504 Darnold is qualified for nothing more than washing Kirk's game used jocks. Don't ever try acting like he's as good as Kirk.

[@robe2504]

@@TristanandIsolt We'll see. Sam hasn't got much to beat. 1 playoff win in 12 seasons... He might do that this season.

[@chrismoody8171]

Trash

[@locperdu]

Redemption

[@DanKroska]

Potential

[@weelgunny]

Opportunity

[@MIKERUPTION]

Resurgence

[@niklaaslandhuis6043]

Ghosts

[@kingduckcat7569]

Mono

[@ryanlivdahl5567]

GEQBUS

[@LockedOnVikings]

only cultured one in here

[@skol-tx9767]

Bridge

[@adamenter4695]

Potential

[@adamenter4695]

Also, I am completely aware this is an engagement scam/trick, but I'm willing to do it once for the guy I used to cheat off of in math class.

[@StephenAshby]

Streaky

[@punisher5598]

Ghosts

[@archcryptic4826]

Ghosts