The Minnesota Vikings are in somewhat of a rebuilding process having lost veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins in the 2024 offseason. The Vikings’ offense rallied around Cousins for six years during which he led the team to two postseason appearances.
However, his failure to get the Vikings past the Divisional Round has given rise to others to stake claim for the coveted job under center in Minnesota.
As things stand, the Vikings have signed Sam Darnold as the replacement for Cousins, while they also drafted J.J. McCarthy with the number 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With McCarthy looking more likely to end up as the Vikings’ franchise signal caller in the future, it will be interesting to see what Darnold can do with this opportunity.
Although there is not a whole lot to go upon in terms of his sample size over the past couple of years, there are a few things the Vikings fan base can expect from him this season.
Remain the starting quarterback throughout the season
Probably the most important question of the season for the Vikings and Darnold himself will be whether or not he can perform well enough to hold down the starting role in the 2024 season.
As the Vikings have drafted McCarthy, they will surely look to him to run the offense in the future, but Darnold will do well to start and finish this year as QB1.
This will not only help McCarthy gain valuable insight into the professional league as he sits and learns from the bench, but it will also help Darnold’s case when the time comes for him to look elsewhere.
Lead the Vikings to a winning season
Three of the past four seasons for the Vikings have resulted in losing seasons. Last year the team finished third in the NFC North with a 7-10 record. Now, with Justin Jefferson back from his injury and Jordan Addison entering year two, Darnold has the best weapons of his career to date.
Alongside the dynamic duo wide receivers, Darnold will be aided in the backfield by former Packers running back Aaron Jones which looks to be an upgrade over Alexander Mattison. While making the playoffs in 2024 seems to be out of reach for the Vikings, they would be pleased with a winning season from which they can build going forward.
Improvement in his TD-INT ratio
Despite the fact that college football success does not always translate into the NFL, Darnold’s excellent TD-INT ratio from his two years at USC suggests that he has what it takes to reduce his turnovers drastically.
Darnold will play under head coach Kevin O’Connell who will not allow his quarterback the luxury to let loose as per his wishes. Furthermore, Darnold will have the best receiving weapons and a better O-line which should allow him to limit the interceptions he has thrown throughout his career.
Overall, the most realistic expectations from Darnold for the upcoming season will be for him to lead the Vikings from the front while McCarthy learns from the sidelines. If he can get Minnesota within striking distance of the postseason, it will surely be a satisfactory end to the season based on the current situation the Vikings find themselves in.
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The post What to Expect from Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold in 2024 appeared first on NFL Analysis Network .
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