Looking at the 2024 season for the Minnesota Vikings is quite intriguing. They are firmly in a state of transition but that isn't stopping the Vikings from believing they can be competitive this season.
The plan is to bring along rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy slowly. They are in a position where head coach Kevin O'Connell won't feel rushed to get him on the field. There are multiple reasons why they won't feel rushed but the biggest one is arguably the presence of Sam Darnold.
It's a really interesting situation with Darnold. He struggled for multiple seasons in the NFL and ended up as the backup to Brock Purdy this past year with the San Francisco 49ers and has been drawing rave reviews from many. One of those is Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, who believes this will be the season of Darnold.
The 2018 No. 3 pick of the Jets will have a short runway as the Minnesota Vikings’ starter before he gets traded before the Nov. 5 deadline to a contender that has an injured starter, paving the way for the J.J. McCarthy era to begin in Minnesota. Darnold will head back to the AFC and start in a critical late-season game against the Jets, a team that will be teetering on the brink of playoff contention. After playing well in a thrashing of the Jets, the New York Post back page headline will be GHOST STORY.
Yes, Darnold saw ghosts during his time with the Jets but he's grown a lot since that disastrous tenure with the Jets and Adam Gase as the head coach. He did show some improvement with the Carolina Panthers but not enough to keep the starting job long-term.
Darnold's really intriguing element is the situation he comes into with the Vikings. They have a phenomenal group of weapons led by wide receiver Justin Jefferson and great secondary weapons in emerging wide receiver Jordan Addison and top-five tight end T.J. Hockenson.
Will Darnold be able to live up to those expectations? That remains to be seen, but it's not out of the question.
