Minnesota Vikings decline franchise tag for Sam Darnold, setting QB up for free agency
The Minnesota Vikings declined to apply the franchise tag to Sam Darnold before Tuesday's deadline, meaning the quarterback is likely to hit free agency next week.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, though Darnold was officially not tagged, the team and Darnold "will continue to work towards a deal that is best for both sides." The team could still sign Darnold to an extension before free agency begins on March 12.
The franchise tag would have paid Darnold north of $40 million next year. The deadline was 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year deal last offseason after letting Kirk Cousins walk in free agency. While they also drafted J.J. McCarthy out of Michigan with the 10th overall pick, they made it clear Darnold was plan A while the rookie developed. Any QB controversy was headed off when McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason, ending his season prematurely.
Darnold rewarded the Vikings with a 14-3 regular season record behind 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The yardage and TDs were career highs for the former first-round pick. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and finished third in AP Comeback Player of the Year voting. In the biggest games of the season, though — a Week 18 bout with the Detroit Lions for the No. 1 NFC seed and a wild card matchup with the Los Angeles Rams — Darnold folded behind porous pass protection.
The New York Jets drafted Darnold third overall out of USC in 2018, but just three years later took another QB even higher — Zach Wilson out of BYU at pick No. 2. Wilson also flamed out in New York and was most recently the backup in Denver.
New York traded Darnold to the Carolina Panthers after drafting Wilson. Darnold started 17 games for the Panthers across two seasons before heading to the San Francisco 49ers to back up Brock Purdy.
The Vikings traded up one spot to draft McCarthy last year. Michigan won a national championship in his final season as he threw for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions.
