It seems like just a few years ago, Sam Darnold was drafted out of USC to the New York Jets to be their franchise quarterback. That necessarily didn’t happen, but now entering his seventh season he will finally become the quarterback to show his full potential, and become the answer at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.
Yes, Darnold’s career with the Jets certainly hurt his reputation as he had just a completion percentage of 59.8% for 8,097 yards and 45 touchdowns but with 39 interceptions as well. That lack of production and sporadic play led to the Jets trading him to the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2021 season. His inability to process quickly is what held him back on the Jets, but started to show improvement of that once getting to the Panthers but still had some of the tendencies show that he did in New York.
It was his last season in Carolina where things started to click, and then getting to spend a season under Kyle Shanahan on the San Francisco 49ers last season benefited Darnold as well. Between the last two seasons, Darnold has thrown for 1,440 yards, nine touchdowns, four interceptions, and a 90.8 passer rating. The upside has started to show for Darnold, and his flashes have shown occasionally. He is able to use his athleticism to work outside the pocket, and showed the better ability to connect with his first read and go through his progressions at a higher rate.
That upward trajectory in multiple areas is what Darnold needed, and the Vikings’ situation will help show that. Darnold will be behind a strong offensive line with Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw, which led to them being the third best team in pass block win rate. When Darnold is kept clean and not as pressured, he does better. Pair the offensive line with talented receivers like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones, and this is the ideal scenario for Darnold to truly showcase his talent.
The talent is there with Darnold, as well as the rushing upside and ability to work off-script that Kirk Cousins didn’t. While JJ McCarthy was drafted in the first round, Darnold will beat him out for the job and give Minnesota the ability to let McCarthy sit for his rookie season. In that time, Darnold will prove to be the answer at quarterback for the Vikings.
