This past offseason presented tough choices for the Minnesota Vikings’ front office, led by GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell. With their Pro Bowl quarterback recovering from an Achilles tear and approaching his age-36 season, the Vikings had to decide on their future at the position. While they showed interest in retaining Kirk Cousins, they ultimately moved on after the Atlanta Falcons extended him a lucrative $180 million deal, including $100 million guaranteed.
The Vikings eventually signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million contract, but new reports suggest they initially explored landing a proven star quarterback instead. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Vikings considered reuniting Kevin O’Connell with Matthew Stafford, who had worked with O’Connell previously. This would have brought Stafford back to the NFC North, where he’d face his former Detroit Lions team twice a season. However, the Los Angeles Rams swiftly restructured Stafford’s contract, effectively ending Minnesota’s pursuit.
Once the Stafford option fell through, the Vikings turned their focus to Darnold, who quickly became their top choice among free-agent quarterbacks. Pairing a veteran like Stafford with a rookie quarterback may have been an appealing strategy, but the Vikings opted for Darnold, a move that balanced short-term competitiveness with long-term development.
Darnold’s resurgence has been a surprise, given his earlier struggles and the “draft bust” label attached to him. By signing Darnold at a fraction of the cost of Stafford or Cousins, the Vikings retained their draft assets and secured strong on-field results. Now, with one of the league’s best records, the Vikings’ gamble has paid off in a big way.
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