The Minnesota Vikings went 14-3 in 2024, a record that no one could have seen coming given the situation they had in the preseason when they lost their top draft pick at the quarterback position.

With that season of miracles came another in the form of Sam Darnold, who had a career year that led into a free agency bidding cycle. The former USC Trojan had bounced around the NFL ever since he left the Jets, where his NFL career started, and went from liftoff to crash landing.

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When Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox gathered up the biggest offseason risks from the past couple of months, Sam Darnold rose to the top. The Vikings had their fill of the quarterback and allowed him to sign with the Seattle Seahawks, and with it came a $100 million deal and something that Knox would not have done.

“The Seattle Seahawks’ gamble is a risk on another level entirely. Like the Rodgers signing, it has the potential to blow up in Seattle’s face and cost jobs. However, it’s a risk Seattle didn’t necessarily have to take. . .A couple of things are potentially concerning about this deal. For one, Darnold thrived in 2024 under Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and with top-tier pass-catchers like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Outside of that support system, he’s been an average-at-best player his entire career. Secondly, Darnold appeared to revert to his previous form when faced with heavy pressure in Minnesota’s regular-season finale and in the playoffs. He’s now going to a team with a lesser supporting cast and with some question marks along the interior offensive line.

For the Vikings, Darnold was a serviceable veteran and served his role as a bridge quarterback, leading to J.J. McCarthy. Both Darnold, Kevin O’Connell, and Wes Phillips have all done their part to prepare him to take over the role mentally.

Now, it is time for McCarthy to show that the Seahawks were the only team that took a bad risk.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Former Vikings QB seen as riskiest signing of 2025 for new team