Report: Vikings want Sam Darnold back with new contract in 2025 despite McCarthy pick | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

The Minnesota Vikings made JJ McCarthy their quarterback of the future when they selected him with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but that future may have to wait after Sam Darnold’s outstanding season.

“They used a first-round pick on JJ McCarthy last spring and Darnold is due for a big payday in March. Still, after speaking with a team source, one thing is clear: The Vikings want Darnold back in Minnesota in 2025,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported.

Minnesota made the veteran bridge quarterback when he signed him to a one-year, $10 million contract last offseason. He was forced into the starting lineup when McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee before the season.

That seemed quite problematic for the Vikings at the time, considering Darnold was a combined 21-35 as a starter during his time with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers prior to this year.

Darnold was particularly disappointing in New York after the Jets selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Instead of living up to expectations as a franchise quarterback, he threw 39 touchdowns in 38 games and played on a different team in his fourth season.

But everything has changed in Minnesota.

The 27-year-old completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,776 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and was 13-2 as a starter. The Vikings are in the thick of the race for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and could set up a winner’s showdown with the Detroit Lions if they defeat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

At some point, the Vikings will certainly want to see what McCarthy offers. Still, the possibility of being the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and gaining home-field advantage cannot be overlooked, and it looks like the NFC North team wants to continue to build momentum with Darnold.