Sam Darnold: overcoming "hardships".

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!

Legend He should start the whole season.

Ghostbuster

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.

One word potential

Redemption

Mono

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

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

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.

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.

HOPE!

Potential

Acceptable

Welcome!

resurrection

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 😂😅

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

Opportunity for both

Darnold in one word…. “Umm”. 😂😂😂😂

redemption!

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

Circumstance

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.

Opportunity

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?

Rebirth

One word: untapped

Wildcard

Ghosts

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

Resurgence

Journeyman

"Unknowable"

Bridge

ANCHOR-MAN

Sam Darnold: schroedingers QB

Interceptions

starter

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

Hair

Stud

Mononucleosis

GEQBUS

Jägerbomb

One year nun more🤣

Crapshoot?

misfortune

Streaky

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

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

Trash

Redemption

Potential

Opportunity

Mono

Ghosts

GEQBUS

Bridge

Potential

Ghosts

Ghosts

Mono