sudpung168 Sam Darnold will test the free-agent market after the Minnesota Vikings opted not to franchise tag the 27-year-old quarterback.

The Minnesota Vikings are giving Sam Darnold a chance to test the free-agent market when it opens on March 12 after the club avoided using the $40.242 million franchise tag on the 27-year-old quarterback, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. sudpung168

The decision is in line with statements made by Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after Darnold was given the go-ahead to test the free-agent market, as the quarterback’s franchise tag is worth a staggering $40.242 million, more than Minnesota needs.

Paying for the use of the 27-year-old warlord for another season 

Part of that comes from O’Connell seeing J.J. McCarthy, the former No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft, as he recovers and should be ready to start this offseason. 

For Darnold, he’s having the best season of his career leading the Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and posting a 66.2 quarterback rating, the best across all programs for the 27-year-old. Barring a franchise offering him a long-term deal, a return to Minnesota would likely be Darnold’s first option. ( sudpung168 )