Report: Minnesota Vikings unlikely to franchise tag Sam Darnold

The Minnesota Vikings are “unlikely” to franchise tag quarterback Sam Darnold ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, league sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Schefter reports that the Vikings are still interest in working to re-sign Darnold. If he stays with the Vikings next season, it appears that it will be without a franchise tag designation.

When a team uses their franchise tag on a player, they’re guaranteed to have the player for another season. However, they are also required to pay the player the average of the top five highest-paid players at the position for the season. In Darnold’s case, the Vikings would have no choice but to pay the 27-year-old QB around $55 million.

If the two parties do work out a new deal, the question still remains for Minnesota on whether to choose between Darnold, who is coming off the best season of his career and is an unrestricted free agent. Or J.J. McCarthy, who was selected 10th overall in last year’s NFL Draft, but missed his entire rookie season with a right knee injury.

During the 2024 season, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 66.2% passing. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record before Minnesota lost in the NFC Wild Card round.

For McCarthy, the last time fans were able to see him on the field in a real game was when he was leading Michigan to a College Football Playoff National Championship victory over Washington. He was one of the winningest quarterbacks in college during his time in Ann Arbor, but wouldn’t get to showcase his abilities for very long before going down with a tear in his meniscus in his right knee during the team’s first preseason game.

He underwent a second surgery in November to address swelling in the knee that developed after an increase in activity during the rehabilitation process. Now, all signs points toward McCarthy being back on track to return for the 2025 season.

The Vikings would sign Darnold in free agency before McCarthy was drafted by Minnesota last offseason. Joining the franchise on a one-year, $10 million deal before he became a full-time starter for the Vikings in the regular season.

Last month, Adam Schefter named the Las Vegas Raiders as a team who could consider bringing him aboard. The Raiders are in search of a new quarterback, and it remains to be seen if they look toward the free agency market, or 2025 NFL Draft for it.