THE ATHLETIC: Execs Weigh-In on the Vikings & Sam Darnold's Situation

[@MtCarmel2006]

Tag Donald and build the o-line and d-line

[@robertgoodman7114]

I think you should be a executive somewhere. I would also add in a corner if possible. Oline first, then DT, if possible corner.

[@Phaedrus5015]

Totally agree, and I think that the Vikings think tank thinks the same thing. Build the team around JJ for the long haul and let a well deserved Sam Darnold get paid by the Rams or 49ers.

[@dougboer9172]

Totally agree, even poor Kirk may have made us some noise in his time if we ever had a dyno powerfull O line! Been my bitch for yrs now

[@sandyborzillo8595]

Exactly! Add corners

[@MoMoMyPup10]

Yes. Tag him for $41mil which leaves $30mil to sign a complete DB unit, a RB, upgrade the OL, and resign your own FA's (a lot). Brilliant, you should be an executive somewhere 😆

[@dewainejohnson2305]

Keep him if the price is right. I like tag and trade idea

[@user-otzlixr]

You cant trade a franchised player

[@MichaelRucker-ns5po]

At thus point you gotta run it back one more year

[@nathancollins69]

I agree with you on the DJ stance! Also I think KOC could have jones playing like Sammy is this year!

[@BlackjackCZ]

Unless the Vikings win the Super Bowl, tag and trade. SKOL!

[@HadesZander-q6z]

I agree with exec 1 but I tag and trade darnold if we get first round picks for him or keep him for a year and let him walk next year

[@jeffmanty6721]

Ask Darnold if he would want to stay under the franchise tag? If not, let him sign somewhere else. However, if the Vikings win the Super Bowl, I think ar that point the Vikings should offer him three year deal with the third year the Vikings option. That way, McCarthy will play one year under his rookie contract.

[@djkota8849]

Letting him go would probably be the worst decision we could make, tag and trade would be the way to go if teams want hime enough.

[@000JonnyBoothworthy]

Lmfao Darnold is taking a team friendly to stat with the top dog😃

[@tmoney7735]

Spielman - trade him for two 6, one 7th round picks

[@RichardHill-d8k]

Tag and trade will limit Vikings available funds in the pre draft free agency market. Where they likely want to address the offensive line, defensive line, and defensive backfield concerns. But, the additional possible draft choices coming out of a trade would offset that disadvantage. I expect Vikings are already having discussions about the Darnold trade value.

[@edlyli7166]

Don't count your chickens before they hatch

[@user-otzlixr]

A penny saved, is a penny earned.

[@TcEng-i7b]

Hi Andy This absolutely answered my ? from the other day I absolutely agree with exec 1. Still happy if Darnold signs at right price. What if we took Kurt Cousins back on league minimum then traded him 😂 that would be hilarious. Thanks for all the content Happy holidays

[@robertgoodman7114]

Trading Cousins is deserving. Thanks for the humor this morning.

[@petermcnaughton1437]

The drunk uncles.... Love it.

[@000JonnyBoothworthy]

Exec No. 1 is Woody Johnson of Jets fame😃🫣😆

[@nickrini3892]

Darnold has re-iterated multiple times in post-game interviews that he “wouldn’t want to be anywhere else”. Nobody seems to be talking about that. I think Sam is willing to work with the team as he. He’s clearly aware of the situation that he’s in.

[@RobertLopez-z8q]

Kirk Cousins said he wanted to end his career here.

[@ajgross67]

Offer Darnold a 2 year deal, if he doesn’t take it then tag him. If JJ is looking in preseason then be open to trade offers

[@swanksthetiger1169]

I dont think Darnold will play on the tag. Not even a slight chance imo. With the threat of the tag, it would behoove the Vikings and Sam to do a 2 year or so with void years to spread that cap out. So if he stays i think a 2 year but basically a 1 year deal with some flexibility cap wise makes sense.

[@jboreal7982]

I’d like to hear how The Vikings are going to win the 2024 Superbowl. Everything else is speculation and trivial.

[@a1preppingwithcharlietuna247]

I like trade him for number 1 pick and fifth round pick from New York and grab that Heisman Trophy winner

[@greed0and0fear]

Unless he signs to another deal thats in the same ballpark as the money hes getting now, theres no way we can even think of signing him, and I dont understand why no one is bringing up these points here. We have roughly 75 million in cap space next year, a single pick in the top 4 rounds and 4 picks overall in the next draft, Flores is about to leave for a HC job, and a SLEW of expiring contracts, with many of them putting us in a very difficult spot: Cam Robinson Byron Murphy Stephon Gilmore Aaron Jones Pat Jones Shaq Griffin Camryn Bynum Jerry Tillery Dalton Risner Cam Akers Our entire RB room, all of our current CB starters all leaving next season if nothing happens with negotiations. WHY are we discussing even the thought of tagging him, let alone a big contract extension?? Thats 40+ mil out of our really good cap space that we absolutely NEED to fill major holes! Other than our LBs with Greenard, Cashman, Turner and Van Ginkel, our defense will look NOTHING like this year. We need major signings in the secondary and line. A couple of spots on the O-line need filled for either replacements or depth, and we need to figure out our RB room with either getting Jones under a longer contract if he wants and filling depth behind him again, or find another free agent rusher to replace him. We have already seen what O'Connell and McCown can do with a QB this season, why not go with JJ all the way? He has spent a year learning the system while recovering and has great weapons around him. Im comfortable with that. Im NOT comfortable with locking up Sam and losing the ability to build anything on defense next year, considering they will more than likely need to learn a new scheme under a new D coordinator.

[@brianbanks9858]

Originally i wanted the Vikings to tag and trade Darnold for 2 first round picks; but the more i think about it, the more that strategy concerns me. If Darnold sustains this level of play for the rest of his career - 10+ seasons - he'll be a top 5 QB in the league with real HOF potential and more than likely a ring or 2 on the resume. As a long suffering Vikings fan, the thought of the Vikings potentially repeating the falcons' sin with brett favre is too much to bear 😬 skol baybee

[@tonykochel]

Thank God for Kwesi

[@joseyzadoria7815]

A great story line would be the Bills and the Vikings in the Superbowl. Two franchises who lost 4 Superbowls and who would win?

[@Axxxmann]

I agree, but I'm not sure I'd want to play bills. I want a sb win

[@trevormeed7044]

Mcarthy can be good, but he can also be big big bad. So if we have sucess with sam D. NOW, and can win with him, it makes sense to stay, yeah, we can risk it for the rookie, but if Mcarthy does not work out in 2 years post this year with sam? Then good bye gm, goodbye koc, goodbye all the vikings pieces and hello rebuild, goodbye jefferson.

[@dustinkeezer8065]

I mean one more year would be cool, that way Sammy and Jets would have more chemistry along with all the other WR/TEs.... see the sky, we're going beyond those limits....

[@christophermorrison1931]

Tag and trade him for a second round pick

[@Goobs215]

So with McCarthy, D Jones, and Sam Darnold where does Mullens fit in all this? You think he'll be potentially QB3 or looking for a new job?

[@MoMoMyPup10]

There is almost zero chance that they Tag him + sign a whole DB unit + improve the OL. Tag ain't happening unless it's a trade

[@smoky7acres471]

If it wasn't for potential injury a 2 yr 38 per here, and convince the agent hey he will be 30 and proven in the league. At that point with the cap he will get what? 4 yr 70 mil somewhere else.

[@jayramsey690]

What do do need from a quarter back? 1. Consistent play 2. A track record of doing well 3. Reasonable price 4. Team chemistry 5. Good passer 6. Good management system 7. Connecting with weapons Why is JJ better than Darnold?

[@justincase3108]

THIS is the question!

[@svengalilord]

Franchise Tag Darnold. JJ will be able to at least practice for a year. Vikings will be able to evaluate him and figure out who has the brightest future, which my guess would be JJ.

[@senshibat8920]

j Jones in tejas has 16 Billion in a bank.. Linemen and a reverse Herchel trade maybe?

[@quest4adventure495]

Tag and trade let’s build a monster

[@MNNATIVENawfsideMPLS]

When i said the tag and trade thing like 3 months ago everybody laughed at me especially on the locked on sports minnesota channel during a livestream...the pple on the videos were just like no they would neverdo that and kept making excuses i juat kept saying if hes gonna ball out and then fall short of the auper bowl you tag and trade they called me nuts and even laughed at me on livestream...look whose getting the last laugh now

[@SeekJesus27]

I say tag and trade even if they win a SB. I think it says more about KOC than Darnold if they win it all. Plus, Sam probably prices himself out of Minnesota anyway if they win it.

[@kevinray5636]

If we loose against the Packers and Lions, all the Sam talk will go away.

[@b.braker2145]

I think Kurt will do well in Tennessee

[@RibRiles-x3t]

2 year 55. Push the money down the road and make a splash in free agency, trade Darnold after 25-26 and eat the dead cap while McCarthy is still on a rookie deal.

[@Bill-z5s]

Sam wont have the same production elsewhere. Its in his own best interest to try and stay at a team friendly deal. There are needs on defense. Cant afford to pay him top dollar.

[@georgemorris5887]

Total opposite spirit, if we win SB … tag and let him go and reload. We won the SB !!! Who cares if we win. Wind in my sails forever

[@geoffreysaign364]

great to have options!

[@ericschewe3552]

Drunk uncle is always right. He is the best since Tommy Kramer!

[@robertgoodman7114]

Sorry to hear you weren't around for Fran. Kramer was either clutch, or if he came in hung over, he was 5 interceptions for the day. Too bad he had a drinking problem.

[@jimwalker9458]

I really really like Sam. But Jones or JJ will do just as well as Sam this year. Use the money to keep this team together and fill the weak spots

[@Ineed2fabb]

You say keep the team together What ? Sam is the QB he jells with those receivers like nobody's business you think a hobbling JJ or Jones will keep those receivers well feed, think again ?... Sam is young not even 27 yet if he gets to the SB and win it the Vikings will do the same as what the eagles did when they won that SB one more year and out that DO !... What a shame...

[@jiordone8563]

McCarthy in his first year will NOT do as well as Darnold has played.

[@richardstratton7257]

I would let Darnold go(let him get what he deserves🤑🤑🤑🤑) I would re-sign Daniel Jones for a one year deal. So, JJ doesn’t have to worry about rushing back next year.

[@Ineed2fabb]

Viking want a tear QB but don't want to pay for one seems like a catch 22 jones ain't good enough and JJ is up in the air like a zeplin will he come crashing and burning down is any Bodies guess id like to see sam go to the cowboys w/CD Lam + I'll beet they'll trade prescot best bet if they win these next two game and two in the playoffs they'll think real hard about keeping sam darnold as their franchise QB especially if they make the super bowl and win, holy state of a thousand lakes 50+ mil for the next 4 years fully guaranteed just think chiefs on a three peat one of the greatest teams ever in the nfl and the Vikings beat them in the SB holy mother of fishing in those lakes sam will be the bigest catch !...

[@josephklovanish3675]

Feel sorry for anyone who believes that the team can just stick a rookie QB in the same situation and get the same results due to the same pieces being around the QB. IT doesn't work that way, McCarthy will be a ROOKIE QB, and doesn't have the same strengths as Darnold or experiences. You are not going to get the same results with McCarthy year 1 or maybe year 2 if Darnold walks.

[@jiordone8563]

Very risky to just have McCarthy as your starter next year. If he is just ok, or is mediocre, the team/fans will be pissed since the Vikings are in a "win now" mode.

[@michealblake2253]

The only fans that feel that way is Jud from purple daily and others that won’t give Sam any credit for anything he does. They make it seem like KOC has his controller plugged into darnold controlling his every move. It’s truly shameful how nobody gave Darnold a fair shot at being good this year and now that he is all they can say is how much of a genius KOC is. Let’s not forget the panthers and jets moved off of Darnold for unproven rookies and immediately got worse. Just food for thought.

[@KGB5910]

The jets will offer him 90 million lol.

[@bruce2270]

Let's remember Sammy's has one I say one good year in his career so far he's not going to get 50 million that's laughable please take a deep breath 😮 someone will give him 30 35 per season and vikings won't be that team they drafted a qb and they won't waste a top ten pick you drink water too much purple Kool aid

[@michealblake2253]

I wouldn’t say it’s laughable look at the QB market it’s all old guys or rookies that are unproven. Sam is 27 and has been coached up by two of the best offensive minds in the game while still being a top 5 pick Qb talent. He’ll definitely get 40-45 million minimum if he doesn’t he needs to hire a new agent.