The Athletic – The Minnesota Vikings worked quickly to fill the quarterback void left by Kirk Cousins’ departure to the Atlanta Falcons. Sam Darnold, whom the team has been intrigued by since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was hired in 2022, is the team’s newest option.

Darnold will sign a one-year contract with the Vikings, a team source confirmed Tuesday morning. NFL Network was the first to report the agreement. Minnesota preferred him as a bridge quarterback candidate to potentially pair with a highly drafted rookie.

Not only does Darnold have familiarity with the developmental process of a first-round pick, but also he’s emerging from a season in San Francisco in which he showed flashes. Darnold started one game in 2023 and completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw an interception.

A first-round pick in 2018 by the New York Jets, Darnold spent three seasons with the Jets and two with the Carolina Panthers before joining the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year deal last March.

Darnold ranked as The Athletic’s No. 89 free agent available and the third-best quarterback available entering the week, behind only Cousins and Russell Wilson, who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Why did the Vikings make this move?

Darnold’s name has swirled around the Vikings’ space for weeks. Each time the topic of Cousins’ departure surfaced, Darnold’s name arose. Some of the Vikings executives have been intrigued by him for years. How Darnold looked in Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense likely provided the Vikings with more confidence that he could fit in their system. There were other suitors, but ultimately the Vikings wanted to secure a bridge quarterback with familiarity and upside. Darnold is still just 26 years old. He has a relationship with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown. And Minnesota has faith in its structure and weapons (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson) to bring the best out of Darnold.

How he fits

Darnold will be the favorite to start the Vikings’ season opener. Minnesota is likely to aggressively pursue a trade in the NFL Draft for a premium quarterback. Even if the Vikings can consummate that type of deal and target their preferred player, coach Kevin O’Connell has talked in the past about the value he places on development.

Rushing a highly drafted quarterback is unlikely. While the player learns from McCown and absorbs an offense that is complex in what it asks of the quarterback, Darnold will likely be the starter. Part of the reason he signed with Minnesota, as opposed to a team like the Denver Broncos, is because of what the Vikings provide in the form of weapons and coaching. Darnold will be throwing to a superstar wide receiver in Jefferson, a budding youngster in Addison and an elite tight end in Hockenson (when he returns from his ACL injury).

That’s a star-studded cast, which should make Darnold’s life easier than it was with the Jets or Panthers.

2024 impact

It’s really a dice roll. Darnold is one of 34 quarterbacks who have made at least 1,000 pass attempts since 2019. He ranks last in interception-per-attempt ratio behind Jimmy Garoppolo and Mac Jones. His passer rating and completion percentage also rank 34th over the five years, according to TruMedia.

There have been flashes, though. The Jets selected Darnold with the No. 3 pick for reasons that relate to his athleticism and arm strength. The Athletic’s Randy Mueller wrote that Darnold’s “arm strength, accuracy and ability to process finally fit into a scheme for the first time in his career” in 2023.

History

Darnold’s relationship with McCown is notable. Here’s one of Darnold’s Instagram posts from 2018 when the two were teammates:

The Vikings hired McCown as their quarterbacks coach a couple of weeks ago. At the time, the team was not certain whether Cousins would return. And really, Minnesota thought McCown’s experience level and disposition would pay dividends for whoever was in the room. The relationship should ease Darnold’s comfort in a new environment. It should also benefit any potential draftee who is tasked with fitting in seamlessly.

Cap update

The Vikings might not have much more money to spend on free agents. They swung big on edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, snagged edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and running back Aaron Jones and agreed to a deal with off-ball linebacker Blake Cashman. The team could still use help on the interior of the defensive line and at cornerback.

Outlook

It’s going to be an uphill battle in the NFC North. The Detroit Lions remain formidable, and Ben Johnson’s return as offensive coordinator only cements that. The Green Bay Packers are ascending, and adding safety Xavier McKinney only furthers that reality. The Chicago Bears are on the verge of adding two high-end players, possibly even quarterback Caleb Williams, in the NFL Draft. In short, the task is tall, regardless of what you think about Darnold. The Vikings are also relying heavily on health with many of their incumbent players and even Monday’s signings.