Sam Darnold never quite lived up to lofty expectations that come with being chosen No. 3 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, but is in the midst of arguably the most prolific stretch of his career.
Darnold, in the quarterback-friendly confines of Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and running back Josh Jacobs in his supporting cast, has completed 72 percent of his passes through Minnesota’s season-opening pair of victories over the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers while posting 476 yards with four touchdowns to two interceptions.
More importantly, though, Darnold has drastically cut down on the kinds of mistakes that plagued the early stages of his career with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
It has only been two weeks, but Darnold’s turnover-worthy plays have dipped dramatically.
“From 2018 to 2023, Darnold posted a 4.1% turnover-worthy play rate,” Dalton Wasserman writes for Pro Football Focus. “The fourth-worst among quarterbacks with at least 1,000 dropbacks. Despite ranking just 23rd in regular-season dropbacks, his 56 interceptions were the ninth-most in the league during that stretch, highlighting his struggles with ball security.
“Through two weeks of the 2024 campaign, his lone turnover-worthy play was an interception to Fred Warner, the best linebacker in the NFL, who made an incredible play to catch the ball. Otherwise, he’s posted a relatively clean slate and is one of 10 quarterbacks who have started two games and committed one or fewer turnover-worthy plays.”
It remains to be seen whether Darnold’s fast start can continue through at least the month of September, and especially beyond. However, given the weapons surrounding Darnold on the Vikings’ offense, he could be in the midst of a Baker Mayfield-like career renaissance in Minnesota.
