Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Sam Darnold: We’re in a position where we have options

The Future of Sam Darnold with the Vikings

The Vikings have J.J. McCarthy, their 2024 first-round pick, poised to be their quarterback-in-waiting. However, there are indications that they may retain Sam Darnold for at least another season in 2025. Darnold is set to hit free agency after completing the one-year contract he signed with Minnesota last March. inoue vs fulton japan time During a Tuesday press conference at the scouting combine, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah mentioned that the organization is still weighing their options concerning Darnold, with the franchise tag being one potential route.

“Every option is afforded to us,” Adofo-Mensah explained. “When we made the original move, we aimed to create flexibility. Part of that flexibility involved believing in a young and talented player, as well as our infrastructure’s ability to develop quarterbacks. Now, we find ourselves in a position where we have options, and we’ll continue to explore those to determine the best path forward for the Vikings brusko.”

Darnold, 27, had the best season of his professional career under head coach Kevin O’Connell in 2024. podium finish meaning He completed 66.2 percent of his passes for a staggering 4,319 yards, throwing 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading the Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record. However, Darnold faced challenges in Minnesota’s final two games—a defeat against the Lions in Week 18 and another loss to the Rams in the wild card round.

“I was telling my staff, if I could have thought of a brain teaser for an experiment, that would have been a tough one—having a Pro Bowl quarterback win all those games, then lose to the same teams twice,” Adofo-Mensah remarked. “That became the core of our offseason discussions, carefully evaluating it as a whole. We don’t want to overemphasize those last eight quarters or undervalue those final two games. He showcased a lot of good football for us in Year 1 of our system, so we expect even more in the future. We’re excited about Sam’s potential—whatever that may be.”

He continued, “It’s a challenging task. I want to emphasize how proud we are of his contributions and of this team. Although it didn’t end as we wished, many positive outcomes arose. We continue to lay the groundwork for the team we aim to be, and we’ll keep pushing forward.”

Echoing this sentiment, O’Connell expressed how enjoyable it was to be part of Darnold’s journey, saying he is proud of the quarterback’s 2024 performance jili 163. However, he noted that discussions regarding next season are still ongoing.

“I’ve maintained excellent communication with Sam since the end of the season, and even up to very recently,” O’Connell shared. “I believe my relationship with Sam has matured to a level of high respect. This process will unfold, both in the short term and long term, for the Minnesota Vikings. Sam is in a position where the NFL recognizes his capability to perform at a high level.”

“So, that’s promising, and I’m honored to have played a role in his development. We’ll see where this leads us from here.”

How do you think the Vikings should approach Sam Darnold’s situation moving forward?