Sam Darnold’s resurgence with the Minnesota Vikings has positioned him as a top quarterback option in NFL free agency. The former No. 3 overall pick led the Vikings to a 14-2 record in 2023, transforming his career trajectory after stints with the Jets and Panthers.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin projects Darnold will sign with the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year, $114 million contract.
NFL insider Benjamin Allbright agrees with this prediction, describing Darnold as a “bridge quarterback” for the Raiders.
“My guess is they’re gonna use a bridge quarterback until they find a guy and push all in, and my way-too-early guess at the bridge quarterback would be Sam Darnold,” Allbright wrote on X.
Darnold’s 2023 statistics support his market value:
– 4,319 passing yards (5th in NFL)
– 37 touchdowns (5th in NFL)
– 102.5 passer rating (6th in NFL)
New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll emphasized immediate success in his introductory press conference.
“We’re starting right now and going for it immediately… We’re going to start right now, (we’re) going to go after it and build this team as quickly as we can,”
Carroll said, according to The Athletic.
The Raiders, holding the No. 6 pick in the upcoming draft, likely won’t have access to top quarterback prospects Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. This draft position makes pursuing a veteran like Darnold more practical.
At 27, Darnold seeks a long-term commitment after playing for four teams since leaving USC as a redshirt sophomore. His Vikings performance demonstrated his potential as a franchise quarterback, though Allbright’s “bridge” characterization suggests the Raiders might view him as a temporary solution.
The NFL’s constant demand for quarterback talent works in Darnold’s favor, particularly after his breakout season leading Minnesota to the playoffs and contending for the NFC North title.
