Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Discusses Sam Darnold: Exploring Exciting Options for the Future

The Vikings are excited about their first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy, as a future quarterback. But they might also keep Sam Darnold for another season in 2025.

Darnold will become a free agent after his one-year contract with Minnesota ends. General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mentioned during a recent press conference that they are still exploring options for Darnold’s future, including the possibility of using the franchise tag.

“We have many options,” Adofo-Mensah said. “When we made the trade, we aimed to keep our choices open. We believed in Darnold’s potential and our ability to develop quarterbacks. Now, we can weigh all our options to see how we can best move ahead.”

This past season, Darnold had a standout year under head coach Kevin O’Connell. He achieved a 66.2% completion rate, threw for 4,319 yards, and scored 35 touchdowns against just 12 interceptions, helping the Vikings to a 14-3 record.

However, things didn’t go as well in the final two games of the season, including a loss to the Lions and another against the Rams in the playoffs. Adofo-Mensah reflected on this by saying, “It’s puzzling to have a Pro Bowl quarterback win so many games, yet lose to the same two teams. We need to consider both the highs and lows as we think about the offseason.”

He expressed pride in Darnold’s achievements and the team’s overall progress, even if the season ended on a disappointing note. “We’re laying the groundwork for the team we want to be,” he added.

Coach O’Connell shared his pride in Darnold’s development throughout the season. He highlighted the strong relationship they’ve built, saying, “I’ve had great conversations with Sam since the end of the season. Our respect for each other has grown, and I believe he can play at a high level in the NFL.”

The Vikings are looking forward to what the future holds for both Darnold and the team.