Sam Darnold labeled Minnesota Vikings' "X-factor" heading into 2024

The Minnesota Vikings are in a bit of a pickle regarding their quarterback situation heading into the 2024 season. The plan all along was for former first-round pick Sam Darnold to start the season and for the team to evaluate when to bring in this year’s first-round pick, J.J. McCarthy.

That plan changed dramatically when McCarthy was lost for the season with a knee injury. Now, the Vikings are left with Darnold as the starter and a lot of uncertainty behind him if things don’t pan out for the much-maligned quarterback.

That uncertainty is what has Bleacher Report NFL analyst Kristopher Knox naming Darnold the Minnesota Vikings’ “X-factor” for the 2024 season. Darnold can have one of two seasons: either a redemptive season reminiscent of Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith or a complete collapse, and the Vikings will have to turn elsewhere.

If that second scenario plays out, they’d be turning to either Nick Mullens, who was prolific in his starts last season in relief of injured quarterback Kirk Cousins but was 0-3 in his starts, or Jaren Hall—who was unimpressive in his two starts but went 1-1—or recently signed Matt Corral, who has yet to play a game in the NFL.

The Vikings are in a position where they desperately need Darnold to play like a quarterback who was taken with a top-three pick and not like the quarterback he has played for much of his career.