Getty Image
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is currently having by far the best season of his seven-year NFL career. But ESPN’s Shannon Sharpe is far from sold by the feel-good story.
Darnold, a former top prospect turned NFL journeyman, signed a one-year deal with Minnesota in the offseason and looked set to play the role of backup for rookie JJ McCarthy. But when McCarthy got injured in the preseason, Darnold’s name was next up on the depth chart.
All he’s done since is lead Minnesota to an 11-2 record with some jaw-dropping numbers. He ranks third in the league behind only Lamar Jackson and Jared Goff in QB Rating. His 28 touchdowns are third behind only Joe Burrow and Jackson, and he sits sixth in the NFL with 3,299 passing yards.
But despite all of that, Sharpe says that the Vikings would be making a major mistake should they choose to pay Darnold long-term.
.@ShannonSharpe doesn’t think the Vikings should sign Sam Darnold to a long-term deal 😯
“Quarterback is the only position that they’ll pay you based on potential or if you have one good year.” pic.twitter.com/N1DnLXrFE9
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 9, 2024
“You just invested a top-ten pick in J.J. McCarthy, there’s no guarantee,” Sharpe said on ESPN First Take. “Quarterback is the only position that they’ll pay you based on potential or if you have one good year. Every other position you got to put multiple years together in order to get paid. [Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver] Ja’Marr Chase put together three, four years, they won’t pay him.”
Sharpe makes some good points. Minnesota is highly invested in McCarthy, and Darnold’s sample size of success is fairly small. But you also risk looking very silly if you don’t pay Darnold and he goes on to succeed elsewhere and McCarthy struggles.
Ultimately, this is why Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah gets paid the big bucks. But we definitely don’t envy him having to make this decision.