NFL analyst urges Vikings to franchise tag $10,000,000 Sam Darnold to avoid nightmare

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold has been having a rejuvenating season, as he is playing the best football of his NFL career in Year 7. Darnold was picked in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft by the New York Jets.

After not becoming a top quarterback in the NFL, the Jets traded him to the Carolina Panthers, and then he signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. After one season with the 49ers, Darnold signed a one-year $10 million deal with the Vikings this offseason.

The Vikings also drafted rookie J.J. McCarthy, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in preseason. Since being the team's starter this season, Darnold has been nothing short of excellent, leading the Vikings to a 13-2 record while setting career highs all across the board in major passing statistics.

With Darnold set to become a free agent this upcoming offseason, NFL radio host Colin Cowherd thinks the Vikings should, at the minimum, franchise tag Darnold to avoid letting another team sign him.

"I know Sam Darnold was supposed to be like a one-year thing, but he is so good with Justin Jefferson," Cowherd said on his show on Monday. "He is so clutch in the fourth quarter. This is no longer just a good story. This is an excellent team, and he is an excellent quarterback. ... And quarterbacks are either trucks where they're pulling the team, or they're trailers where they're being pulled."

Cowherd then warned the Vikings to secure Darnold just in case a new team picks him up in free agency and comes around to beat the Vikings. He thinks the Vikings should avoid that disaster.

"Sam's a truck. He's pulling this team. ... I know you drafted JJ McCarthy, I get it, and I know you brought in Daniel Jones, understood, but to me, you got a franchise tag him at minimum. You can't let him go. What if he ends up somewhere along the way and comes back to beat you?"

Statistically, Sam Darnold is having by far the best season of his NFL career

Sam Darnold during Minnesota Vikings v Seattle Seahawks - Source: Getty

With two games left in the 2024-25 regular season, Sam Darnold is having, by far, the best year of his NFL career.

Darnold has thrown more than 700 passing yards this season than any other season, 13 more touchdowns than any other season and has the best completion percentage and QBR of any season.

This will also be the first time a Sam Darnold-led team will make the postseason. There's a real chance the Vikings could end up with the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.

The Minnesota Vikings will have to reconsider extending Sam Darnold this offseason. What do you think they should do?