With 2025 NFL free agency right around the corner, all eyes will be on quarterback Sam Darnold, who is set to hit the open market after a career-reviving campaign with the Minnesota Vikings.
There has been some thought that the Vikings could bring Darnold back given the uncertain status of fellow signal-caller J.J. McCarthy, who didn’t play a single snap last season after suffering a serious knee injury.
However, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Darnold isn’t likely to return to Minnesota. The former No. 3 overall pick is expected to draw significant interest on the open market considering he’s the best option available at the position.
One team that could come calling is the New York Jets, who parted ways with future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently. Garrett Podell of CBS Sports believes that’s exactly where Darnold will end up.
New York’s new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand comes over after working as the Detroit Lions passing game coordinator under Ben Johnson in the league’s highest-scoring offense. The allure of playing with nice weapons and a fun play caller will lead Darnold to make a Jets homecoming to heal the wounds that occurred early in his career.
On the surface, Darnold to the Jets makes sense considering New York’s need for a quarterback, and with Darnold looking for a starting job.
It remains to be seen if Darnold will have any interest in going back to a team that completely failed him early in his career, though. Granted, he would be playing for a different regime this time around, but the Jets are a historically bad franchise, no matter who is running things.
Money talks and if the Jets offer the USC product a lucrative deal that nobody else is willing to pay him, Darnold might be open to a reunion. Such a deal would look like Spotrac’s projection, which is four years and $160 million.
Following the release of Davante Adams, the Jets are in a much better cap situation than they were previously, with general manager Darren Mougey having $51.3 million to work with.
That puts the Jets in play for Darnold if they want him, but it takes two to tango and we just don’t see the 2024 Pro Bowler wanting to go anywhere near his former team.
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