Minnesota Vikings News - Sportsnaut

Aaron Rodgers reportedly hopes this playoff team chases him in NFL free agency

Andrew Buller-Russ — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 15:27:10 +0000

Shaun Brooks-Imagn ImagesShaun Brooks-Imagn Images

NFL free agency kicked off three days ago, and while Aaron Rodgers isn’t able to officially be a free agent until today, he still could have verbally agreed to a deal with a new team. Several other quarterbacks have landed new jobs on a different team this offseason, but not the four-time NFL MVP.

Rodgers, now 41 years old, is running out of options. Two teams that stick out the most are the New York Giants, who are desperate to put some wins on the board, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are coming off a playoff appearance. Yet, Rodgers is reportedly holding out hope that another contender will get involved.

Aaron Rodgers privately hoping Minnesota Vikings sign him

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Seeking another chance to compete for a Super Bowl victory, Aaron Rodgers surely wants to land in a situation where he can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Between the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, the latter would seem to suit his needs.

But what if there’s another playoff contender lurking in the shadows? Rodgers sure hopes so.

According to Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano, Rodgers is “seemingly hoping the Vikings will get involved” in his free agency chase.

“Rodgers is deciding between the Steelers and Giants. He is seemingly hoping the Vikings will get involved (and I still think it’s possible that they will). The fallback option for both the Steelers and Giants appears to be Russell Wilson.”
Ralph Vacchiano on Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers’ free agency decision reportedly isn’t about who offers him the most money or the best contract. Instead, according to Vacchiano, Rodgers is focused on signing with the team that offers the best fit for him and his playing future.

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Sam Darnold signs $100 million contract in NFL free agency

Andrew Buller-Russ — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 18:37:29 +0000

Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesMatt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings will have a new starting quarterback in 2025. Sam Darnold, after a career-best Pro Bowl season where he ranked in the top five in passing yardage and touchdowns, is moving on to his fifth NFL team. But for the first time, he’s joining a team where he’s immediately becoming a starter.

So, which team is Darnold joining?

Seattle Seahawks sign Sam Darnold to contract worth over $100 million

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Hours after NFL free agency began, the Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms on a three-year, $100.5 million contract with $55 million guaranteed. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Darnold will earn $37.5 million in the first season of the deal.

Darnold does have some level of comfort by heading to Seattle where he’ll reunite with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whom he worked with in his lone season with the San Francisco 49ers prior to joining the Vikings in 2024.

Darnold won’t turn 28 until June, giving the Seahawks a franchise quarterback for years to come. They even reportedly offered Geno Smith, who’s 34, a similar contract extension, but the now-Raiders quarterback turned it down.

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NFL rumors: Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts ‘leading contenders’ for this QB

Matt Johnson — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:21:18 +0000

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The Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts are both involved in the quarterback carousel heading into NFL free agency, seeking a veteran signal-caller who can challenge their first-round pick for the starting job. With several quality options available, it appears Indianapolis and Minnesota are after the same player.

Entering free agency, the best quarterbacks available this offseason are Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers and Daniel Jones. However, neither Minnesota nor Indianapolis is offering a direct path to a starting job like the New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks can.

The Vikings are looking for someone to provide competition with J.J. McCarthy in training camp. McCarthy would seemingly have a leg up in the competition as the 10th overall pick from the 2024 NFL Draft. However, he’s recovering from knee surgery that sidelined him for his entire rookie season.

The Colts’ situation is even more dire. With general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen both on the hot seat in 2025, Indianapolis is simply looking for competent quarterback play. Anthony Richardson, the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has a career 67.8 QB rating and 50.6 percent completion rate in 15 games over the last two seasons. Indianapolis prefers he wins the job, but it wants a viable option behind him if he gets hurt or doesn’t improve.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Vikings and Colts are the “leading contenders” to sign Jones. While other clubs might have some exploratory interest in the former first-round pick, a decision is expected to come down to Indianapolis or Minnesota.

Daniel Jones stats (ESPN): 14,582 passing yards, 70-47 TD-INT ratio, 84.3 QB rating, 64.1% completion rate, 2,179 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns in 70 career games

On the surface, Minnesota might be the more appealing landing spot. Jones already spent time learning Kevin O’Connell’s system, having signed with the Vikings midway through the 2024 season after being released by the Giants. Minnesota’s supporting cast – both its pass-catchers and offensive line – is superior to what Jones would have with Indianapolis.

If he wants to be a starter in 2025, though, Indianapolis might be his best option. Richardson has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL over the last two seasons and the Colts’ regime is looking for any way to save its jobs. For now, the Vikings are considered the favorites but the Colts do have a real chance at landing him.

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Minnesota Vikings rumors reveal star player the team is a ‘dark horse’ to sign in NFL free agency

Matt Johnson — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 20:40:36 +0000

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The Minnesota Vikings are among the leaders in cap space heading into NFL free agency and they’ll have even more flexibility with Sam Darnold likely headed elsewhere. With so much cash to spend, NFL rumors are pointing toward a potential big splurge by the Vikings this offseason.

Minnesota has plenty of needs it needs to address. There’s a void at running back with Aaron Jones hitting free agency and starting cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr. and Stephon Gilmore are poised to hit the open market. With more than $60 million in cap space, the club has clear areas to spend it.

There’s also a lot of intrigue at quarterback. J.J. McCarthy could be the Vikings starting quarterback in 2025, but he’s still recovering from a second surgery on his knee. The time off meant that he couldn’t add muscle, resulting in a thin frame that the coaching staff wants to see him address this offseason. There’s also still uncertainty about how well he’ll perform after a year spent on the sideline unable to practice. There’s an emerging solution in free agency.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Vikings have emerged as a “dark horse” candidate to sign Aaron Rodgers once he is released by the New York Jets.

Previous NFL rumors suggested Rodgers would be landing with the New York Giants, but other clubs are still in the mix. The Tennessee Titans have also been linked to the future Hall of Fame quarterback, with both New York and Tennessee currently able to provide a clear path to the starting job in 2025.

Of course, Rodgers signing with the Vikings would be a continuation of him following in the footsteps of Brett Favre. Like Favre, he requested a trade away from the Green Bay Packers and landed with the New York Jets. Now, with Rodgers getting cut be New York, he could return to the NFC North with the Vikings.

Minnesota would have an elite supporting cast of offensive weapons along with a very good offensive line in place, putting Rodgers in the best possible position for success. He could conceivably beat McCarthy in a competition to be the Vikings starting quarterback and the team would only be committed to him for one year. If the Vikings are a legitimate suitor and Rodgers is willing to compete, it’s the best job he’ll find this offseason.

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NFL rumors: Minnesota Vikings reportedly eyeing shocking quarterback replacement with Sam Darnold apparently bolting after one season

Matt Higgins — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:29:25 +0000

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The Sam Darnold era appears to be over after just one season with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Athletic’s NFL insider Dianna Russini reports that Darnold is expected to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, who recently traded starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, when free agency opens Monday.

Darnold resurrected his career with the Vikings in 2024. Thrust into the starting role after J.J. McCarthy tore the meniscus in his right knee, Darnold thrived under head coach Kevin O’Connell’s guidance. He led the Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record while posting career highs in passing yards (4,319), touchdowns (35), completion percentage (66.2%), yards per game (254.1), passer rating (102.5), and QBR (60.4).

The Vikings declined to use their franchise tag on Darnold and, despite hoping to bring him back, it now appears he’s heading elsewhere. Darnold is expected to command upwards of $40 million per year on his new deal.

With Darnold reportedly off the board, the Vikings are turning their attention to two alternative quarterback — including a surprising option.

NFL insider reveals Vikings could show interest in future Hall of Fame quarterback

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According to Russini, the Vikings’ first preference would be to bring back Daniel Jones, whom they signed last year after his November release by the New York Giants.

However, with Jones also receiving interest from the Indianapolis Colts, his return to Minnesota isn’t guaranteed. If that’s the case, Russini notes that the Vikings could pursue Aaron Rodgers.

“The Vikings could show interest in Aaron Rodgers if they are unable to re-sign Jones,” Russini posted on X.

As free agency approaches, the QB carousel is beginning to spin:

◽️ Decision makers around the league expect Sam Darnold to end up in Seattle on a multi-year deal
◽️ Minnesota will attempt to pivot and sign Daniel Jones, who is receiving interest from the Colts
◽️ The Vikings… pic.twitter.com/wu8NHBg4dW
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 8, 2025

It would be remarkable to see Rodgers in a Vikings jersey, reminiscent of when Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre signed with the team in 2009 and played two seasons there. Rodgers would follow Favre’s career trajectory: starting with the Green Bay Packers, then going to the New York Jets, before potentially landing with the Vikings.

The Jets have informed Rodgers they are moving on after two disappointing seasons. The 41-year-old threw for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while leading New York to a 5-12 record.

If the Vikings bring in Rodgers, McCarthy, their first-round pick in 2024, would likely spend the 2025 season developing behind the veteran quarterback.

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Minnesota Vikings predicted to sign former $160 million quarterback after declining to franchise Sam Darnold

Andrew Buller-Russ — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 23:01:42 +0000

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Not even a 14-win season, or ranking in the top five in passing touchdowns and passer rating was good enough for the Minnesota Vikings to place the franchise tag on Sam Darnold. The soon-to-be 28-year-old quarterback is coming off a career year, earning his first Pro Bowl appearance, yet still, no franchise tag.

Of course, the Vikings are reportedly still trying to re-sign Darnold, it just won’t be for the same $40.2 million amount the franchise tag would have resulted in. However, if the Vikings don’t retain Darnold, they’ll need another quarterback who can either backup or compete with J.J. McCarthy. Their Darnold replacement could be nearby.

Minnesota Vikings predicted to re-sign Daniel Jones

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Last offseason, the Minnesota Vikings got an absolute bargain, signing Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract. They could be looking to take a similar approach this offseason, taking a chance on a buy-low, high reward player who has yet to reach his full potential.

The perfect candidate was already on the roster late last year, when Daniel Jones joined the organization following his requested release from the New York Giants. Signed to a four-year, $160 million contract extension after leading the Giants to a Wild Card playoff win over the Vikings, Jones tore his ACL the next season and never regained his top form.

As noted, if Darnold leaves, the Vikings will need a capable replacement. Recently, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer predicted Jones to return to the Vikings, where he’d get to backup J.J. McCarthy in a high-powered offense featuring reigning NFL Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell calling the shots.

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Minnesota Vikings seemingly make decision on Sam Darnold’s future with team

Andrew Buller-Russ — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:25:58 +0000

Matt Krohn-Imagn ImagesMatt Krohn-Imagn Images

Will Sam Darnold stick around for another season with the Minnesota Vikings? It’s one of the biggest questions as the NFL’s franchise tag window comes to a close on Tuesday.

After a 14-win season and a career-year from the first-time Pro Bowl QB, Darnold has earned himself a massive payday. But will it come from the Vikings?

No other landing spot can offer the reigning NFL Coach of the Year, Justin Jefferson, a Pro Bowl tight end in T.J. Hockenson, a blossoming No. 2 WR in Jordan Addison, or an elite pair of offensive tackles. Yet, the future keys to the offense in Minnesota belong to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, whom the Vikings traded up to select.

Several teams are expected to have interest in Darnold, but that’s only if the Vikings let their soon-to-be 28-year-old quarterback go. Which way is Minnesota’s front office leaning?

Minnesota Vikings not franchise tagging Sam Darnold

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The Minnesota Vikings have a few options with Sam Darnold. They could place the franchise tag on him and keep him for one more season at $40.2 million. With over $50 million in cap space to spend, the Vikings definitely have room in their budget for Darnold.

Yet, the Vikings could also choose to tag and trade Darnold, who’s value is at an all-time high after ranking in the top-five in yards and passer rating. Another option is to sign him to a multi-year contract extension, but the more urgent decision is whether they’ll tag Darnold before Tuesday’s 3 PM CT deadline expires.

However, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, the Vikings will not be tagging Darnold this year.

“A source told me emphatically that they won’t tag the quarterback,,and Darnold will hit the free agent market.”
Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline on Minnesota Vikings/Sam Darnold

Pauline’s sources went on to note that in addition to the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders expecting to have interest in Darnold, “people think” the Indianapolis Colts “will be in the market” for the Vikings QB too.

Local Vikings insider Judd Zulgad from SKOR North echoes the same sentiment about Darnold not being tagged.

“The latest word is, and I got a tip on this last night, and I then checked in with our scoop guy, Doogie, who has different sources. And the latest word from both is that the Vikings have either told Sam or have made it very clear that they are not going to tag him.”
SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad on Sam Darnold

With Darnold on track to hit the open market, he immediately becomes the top free agent quarterback available in a bit of a crowded class that’s also expected to include Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.

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NFL rumors: New York Jets will sign former first-round pick to replace Aaron Rodgers, insider predicts

Matt Higgins — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 01:47:31 +0000

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The New York Jets will be on their eighth starting quarterback since 2020 with the Aaron Rodgers era done after two tumultuous years.

New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey informed Rodgers that they were going in a different direction as the four-time NFL MVP will need to find a new home if he wants to continue playing in 2025.

The Jets traded for Rodgers to much fanfare ahead of the 2023 season, believing he was the final piece to their Super Bowl aspirations. However, it instantly turned into a nightmare. Four plays into his first game with the Jets, Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on Monday Night Football and missed the rest of the season.

He returned in 2024, with the same hopes, but those were quickly dashed. Owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh after a Week 5 loss, did the same with general manager Joe Douglas just a few weeks later, and reportedly wanted Rodgers benched at one point during the season. The Jets crashed and finished 5-12 on the season.

The Jets own the seventh overall pick and need to fill many holes, including quarterback. There’s a good chance Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders won’t be there when the Jets select, so they might not find their franchise quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft.

That’s why one NFL insider believes the Jets will turn to a former first-round pick to be under center.

NFL insider: New York Jets will bring back Sam Darnold

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ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicts the Jets will end up signing quarterback Sam Darnold, whom the Jets selected third overall in the 2018 draft. It would be quite the homecoming as Darnold only lasted three seasons with the Jets and was considered a bust.

During his time in New York, Darnold went 13-25, threw 45 touchdowns to 39 interceptions, and was sacked 98 times. After bouncing around the league, he resurrected his career in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, leading them to the playoffs while throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns, making his first Pro Bowl.

“The idea seems ridiculous. Darnold going back to the Jets — the organization that nearly destroyed his career? But the difficulty with placing Darnold on a new team is that you want to match him with a franchise where the offensive coordinator will run an offense similar to what Kevin O’Connell had for him in Minnesota. That’s what allowed Darnold to finally flourish, overcome his early-career bust status and rank 14th with a 60.4 QBR in 2024,” notes Schatz.

Schatz adds that new Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who was part of the Detroit Lions staff last season with Glenn, would be a good fit with Darnold due to his familiarity with under center play-action calls.

“Although he doesn’t come from the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan tree, Jets coordinator Tanner Engstrand seems like a good match because of the way the Lions used under-center play-action when Engstrand was working under Ben Johnson. The Vikings had the quarterback under center 34% of the time this past season, while the Lions were at 36%. Perhaps a new coaching staff could guide Darnold and the Jets to the playoffs — just not quite in the way fans expected when the Jets took him third overall in 2018.”

Darnold could command upwards of $40 million a year with how quarterback salaries have skyrocketed, so it remains to be seen if the Jets would be willing to shell out that kind of money.

This will be the first big decision Glenn and Mougey make, and whichever quarterback they sign will define their tenure.

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Minnesota Vikings may be hoping to trade Pro Bowler coming off career year

Andrew Buller-Russ — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 17:08:34 +0000

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesMark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Before the 2024 NFL season kicked off, the Minnesota Vikings were nowhere in sight when it came to naming the best teams in the league. Yet, by the time the season was winding down, the Vikings were in play for the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs.

Of course, the Vikings ended up losing their last regular season game, and that downward spiral continued in the Wild Card Round, where the Los Angeles Rams eliminated them.

Despite having such a great season, now the Vikings are being looked at as a team that could trade one of their Pro Bowlers coming off a career year.

Minnesota Vikings may be waiting on Sam Darnold trade market

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How does a team that went 14-3 last season improve for the next year? Typically, teams don’t start by trading away one of their best players or their starting quarterback.

Yet, the Minnesota Vikings could be on the verge of doing just that this offseason.

According to ESPN’s Vikings insider Kevin Seifert, the Vikings likely aren’t looking to retain Darnold via the usage of the franchise tag. However, they could be waiting to see if the trade market plays out for their Pro Bowl quarterback.

“My understanding is that for now, as far as the franchise tag is concerned, the Vikings are going to sit tight. There’s no real incentive to tag Sam Darnold at the start of the window. It will be open until March 4. It doesn’t mean they’ve ruled it out. It also doesn’t mean they won’t eventually sign him to a multi-year deal. But the key here will be whether the Vikings become aware of a potential trade market for Darnold. If there is, they can execute what’s known as a tag-and-trade. In that scenario, Sam Darnold walks out of the building, but this time for draft pick compensation.”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert

The NFL's franchise tag window opens today. Sam Darnold is certainly an option for the Vikings, but there is no rush. From last night on @SportsCenter… pic.twitter.com/ElxlRAJ8VB
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) February 18, 2025

With so many teams desperate to upgrade at the quarterback position, the Vikings shouldn’t have trouble finding a trade partner. The question then becomes whether it would be more worth it for Minnesota to trade Darnold now or wait and recoup the potential compensatory draft pick compensation in 2026.

Yet, since the compensatory pick formula caps out with a maximum return of a third-round selection, the Vikings already have a strong idea of which bar needs to be cleared. In other words, teams will likely have to offer more than a third-round pick to secure Darnold via trade.

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NFL insider reveals Sam Darnold’s ‘likely’ future with Minnesota Vikings

Andrew Buller-Russ — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 20:02:10 +0000

Joe Nicholson-Imagn ImagesJoe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Out of nowhere, the Minnesota Vikings became one of the NFL’s best teams in 2024. Much of their success was credited to Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell getting a career year out of former No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold.

Yet, now Darnold, who’s set to turn 28 in June, will become a free agent. That is, unless the Vikings decide to use the franchise tag on the Pro Bowl quarterback. Doing so would cost the team over $40 million in 2025, but they’d also get their starting quarterback, who won 14 games back.

However, that doesn’t seem to be the direction the team is leaning in.

Minnesota Vikings ‘more likely’ to let Sam Darnold leave

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The Minnesota Vikings traded up to select J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The former Michigan star may have seen some regular season snaps had he not suffered a season-ending knee injury during the preseason.

However, McCarthy’s absence firmly entrenched Sam Darnold as the starter, and he never looked back. Yet, now that Darnold’s value is at an all-time high, people want to know whether the Vikings would be bold enough to move on from him.

However, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the Vikings are leaning toward moving on from Darnold this offseason rather than applying their franchise tag on him.

“Using the tag on quarterback Sam Darnold would be an expensive way of ensuring his return while avoiding a longer-term commitment that would hinder J.J. McCarthy’s eventual ascension. It could also be a way to elicit additional value by way of a trade, but that would require a knowledge that multiple teams would be willing to bid. In the end, the Vikings seem more likely to let Darnold sign elsewhere and preserve their tag for a player such as cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024 and is hitting his prime at age 27. If nothing else, it would give the Vikings time to sign Murphy to a longer-term deal while keeping him off the market.”
ESPN on Sam Darnold/Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are in a unique scenario thanks to the presence of McCarthy. They certainly don’t have to sign Darnold to a new contract, yet moving on after such a successful season seems like a risky play too.

Yet, when other factors, such as the salary cap, are involved, the Vikings have to consider the most optimal path to building a Super Bowl contender, and paying Darnold may not be in the cards.

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