This offseason will be interesting for the Minnesota Vikings. After putting their eggs in the J.J. McCarthy basket, they have found out he could not have been less ready.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent a boatload of money this offseason only for the team to be 4-8 through 13 weeks. Plenty of turnover will take place, and they have to reduce their massively inflated cap situation.
Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
One spot Kevin O’Connell will need help is at quarterback. McCarthy can’t return as the unquestioned starter, and one of the guys they moved on from may hit the open market.
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Sam Darnold could be cut by Seattle Seahawks
Although the Minnesota Vikings didn’t want to pay the freight for Sam Darnold, they did want him back. He was offered a similar deal with shorter terms but chose stability. It’s possible that the Seattle Seahawks don’t actually offer that.
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks in free agency this year. He is under contract for a very reasonable $28 million in 2026 and $45.7 million in 2027. But as is the Seahawks’ policy with veteran contracts, none of the money beyond the first year was guaranteed at signing. If Darnold is still on the Seahawks’ roster five days after the Super Bowl (so, Feb. 13), then $17.5 million of his 2026 compensation becomes fully guaranteed. But if they were to cut him before that, they wouldn’t owe even one more penny and would be on the hook for just $25.6 million in dead money.
Now, the Seahawks are one of the best teams in the league, and Darnold is a big part of the reason why. He’s ninth in QBR at 64.3 and completing 68.3% of his throws. Odds are the Seahawks keep him for 2026. But they build these contracts this way on purpose — to give themselves maximum flexibility. If the Seahawks decide Darnold isn’t their guy — or if they find someone else they think is an upgrade — they would be in position to pivot without very much financial pain.
NFL insider Dan Graziano revealed a list of shocking cut candidates, and Darnold made his way on it. It would be surprising to see the Seahawks move on from a guy that has led them to a 9-3 record, but they sent Geno Smith packing when signing him.
After a 66.2% completion rate with Minnesota, Darnold has an even better 68.2% in year one with Seattle. He has thrown for 19 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions while helping Jaxon Smith-Njigba become one of the best young wide receivers in the league.
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There’s no reason for Mike Macdonald to change up his team’s most important position, but the Minnesota Vikings just literally made the same decision. Options will present themselves on the open market, and the Seahawks could be swayed to invest in other parts of their roster if they come up short of a Super Bowl.
It would be a truly insane full-circle moment if Darnold finds his way back to Minnesota. It would be almost as shocking if he hits the open market at all. For now though, Graziano isn’t ready to rule it out entirely.
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