Sam Darnold

Raiders Declined Seahawks’ Offer For Maxx Crosby; Sam Darnold Likely To Choose Seattle?

March 8th, 2025 at 11:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks aimed much higher in a Geno Smith trade compared to what they eventually received. Fetching a third-round pick three years after their Russell Wilson trade brought eight assets back, the Seahawks asked the Raiders about a player who drew trade interest before last year’s deadline.

Seattle included Maxx Crosby in its trade talks with Las Vegas, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who indicates the NFC West team asked for Crosby in a trade that would have sent Smith and D.K. Metcalf to the Raiders. The Raiders quickly informed the Seahawks Crosby was a non-starter, and the team reached a record-setting extension with the star edge rusher earlier this week.

As Metcalf still looms as a trade possibility, the Seahawks will have a new starting quarterback in 2025. They have become the lead suitor for Sam Darnold, with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adding that several execs around the league expect Darnold to end up in Seattle. The Titans have also emerged as a front-line Darnold suitor, but that looks to have changed after this Smith trade, which has brought several Darnold-Seattle links.

Mark Davis said last year Crosby was not available, and although another trade link emerged early this offseason, no serious traction came out of it. The Raiders have since signed Crosby to a three-year, $106.5MM extension. That deal came together quickly, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicating it took only “a matter of hours” for the sides to hammer out the extension. That is rather surprising, considering that Crosby set a new non-QB contract record despite only agreeing to a three-year term.

Crosby will receive $62.5MM guaranteed at signing, Florio adds, with that figure including his 2025 and ’26 base salaries. Crosby’s 2027 base salary ($29MM) is guaranteed for injury and becomes fully guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. That will amount to a practical guarantee, as the Raiders will be extraordinarily unlikely to move on from Crosby next year. Crosby’s 2028 and ’29 base salaries are nonguaranteed.

It is worth wondering if the Seahawks and Raiders’ Smith talks impacted the Crosby extension. Even if they did not, Seattle attempting to land the dominant pass rusher in a package that would have reunited Pete Carroll with Metcalf as well is quite noteworthy. The Raiders could still acquire Metcalf and/or Tyler Lockett, the latter becoming a free agent minutes before the younger Seahawks wideout’s trade request surfaced. The Seahawks want the Metcalf trade matter resolved by the draft.

Metcalf was linked to preferring a warm-weather city and landing in a place with more quarterback stability. This could certainly be perceived as a knock on Smith, and ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry adds that the Smith trade — and Darnold-to-Seattle rumors — could alter the Metcalf conversation in Seattle. Darnold has not been as good as Smith on the whole, though the Vikings QB outplayed the former Comeback Player of the Year in 2024.

Darnold is now expected to leave Minnesota, and it will be interesting to see how far Seattle will need to go contractually to land the breakthrough passer. The Seahawks’ offense will lack the overall weaponry the Vikings’ provided, especially if the team trades Metcalf. Keeping Metcalf would make the Seahawks more appealing to Darnold, even though Jaxon Smith-Njigba authored a breakout season. Darnold will understandably want to know how serious the Seahawks are about moving Metcalf before he commits, as other suitors’ offers could still impact a Darnold-to-Seattle path.

Seahawks Pursuing QB Sam Darnold After Trading Geno Smith

March 7th, 2025 at 6:07pm CST by Ely Allen

With today’s decision to trade veteran quarterback Geno Smith to Las Vegas, the Seahawks have shifted their focus at the quarterback position. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Vikings pending free agent passer Sam Darnold is the new target to lead the offense in Seattle in 2025.

Darnold’s market has been a rollercoaster so far this offseason. After a 2024 season in which Darnold stepped into the starting role in Minnesota and led the Vikings to competition for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC with a 14-3 record, recording career highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) while only throwing 12 picks, Darnold’s career performance in a contract year presumably set him up for a lucrative venture into free agency. With Darnold and the Vikings becoming the surprise of the season last year, the expectation was that his value as a free agent would skyrocket as a result.

The Raiders had made it known, after failing to acquire Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford via trade, that they were only willing to shell out serious cash for Stafford, dashing any hopes that Darnold may find his way there as a high-paid free agent. Any potential that the Raiders may backtrack on that decision was squashed with the acquisition of Smith out of Seattle. With the Titans and Giants trending towards quarterback prospects Cam Ward of Miami and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado and the Vikings seemingly fully ready for J.J. McCarthy to take the reins, Darnold’s options were looking slim. A new vacancy at the position in Seattle opens the door for a new potential destination for Darnold in 2025.

Darnold has a connection to Seattle in the form of new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Though the 2023 season was one of Darnold’s least active, the campaign saw the backup quarterback work in the same offense as Kubiak in San Francisco, where the latter served the year as passing game coordinator. A familiar face on the coaching staff may be enough help Darnold find his way to Seattle.

Something that may make Seattle slightly less attractive as a destination is the recent departure of veteran receiver Tyler Lockett combined with D.K. Metcalf‘s recent trade request. The receiving corps is still home to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who broke out in his sophomore campaign last year, but behind Smith-Njigba, the top returning receivers are Jake Bobo and, likely, Cody White, a pending exclusive rights free agent.

What’s likely to become the deciding factor for a move to land Darnold will be Seattle’s willingness to take him on with a multi-year deal. Per Russini, Darnold is seeking some modest commitment with a three-year contract. If the Seahawks are willing to meet that demand, it could be an easy decision for both sides.

Raiders Lukewarm On Free Agent QBs, Still Looking Into Trades

March 7th, 2025 at 5:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

An aggressive Matthew Stafford push did not land the Raiders the Super Bowl-winning quarterback, putting them in a similar position to a handful of teams entering free agency. The Raiders need a 2025 starter, and they do not appear overly eager to pay one in free agency.

The Raiders were deep in talks with the Rams signal-caller about a deal that would have paid him at least $90MM guaranteed. Considering Stafford’s age, that pursuit both reflects the Raiders’ view of his talent and their lukewarm assessment of this year’s free agent class. Indeed, the Raiders are not believed to be high on Sam Darnold or the rest of the free agent QBs, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed report (subscription required).

Although the Raiders came up short on Stafford, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes they are still talking to teams about QBs via trade. There are not many starters who could conceivably be had, though two have ties to the Raiders. The Seahawks have started Geno Smith extension talks; the QB’s price will dictate how eager the team is to complete a deal. Smith, of course, played five seasons for Pete Carroll and started the final two. The Saints are planning to keep Derek Carr, but he did come up as a potential trade chip earlier this offseason.

A Carr trade back to Las Vegas would be shocking. Still, there are not many other names who would make sense as a trade chip. The Cardinals’ current regime has praised Kyler Murray consistently, even as it did not authorize his current contract, and Trevor Lawrence-Steelers buzz was roundly debunked. The Raiders, who hold the No. 6 pick and have been mentioned as a Cam Ward suitor (via trade-up), may well need to acquire their bridge in free agency.

Vegas has been tied to Darnold, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson thus far this offseason. Wilson created a Hall of Fame case while playing for Carroll, and while the former Pro Bowler reportedly tried to have Carroll fired from his post in 2022, the sides have mended fences. The gap between Stafford’s talent and this group is substantial, though, and an Aaron Rodgers partnership — rumored in the past — would occur when the QB is near the end.

As expected, Tom Brady is “heavily involved” in the Raiders’ offseason so far, Reed tweets. His ski meeting with Stafford certainly signaled the new Raiders part-owner was running point on this effort, as Mark Davis said he would. Brady was also in the building when Maxx Crosby signed his extension, Reed adds. Brady’s fingerprints figure to be on the Raiders’ free agency effort soon. That process may well send a QB to Vegas, but the draft will loom as an avenue the team will thoroughly explore (once again) as well.

One name to monitor for the Raiders is Jalen Milroe, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore indicates the team remains intrigued with the Alabama product. Milroe is viewed as a player who could be available in the second round. Milroe’s 2024 season checked in worse than his 2023 output.

Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board does not include him, and ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks the two-year Crimson Tide starter 66th overall — as the No. 5 QB in this class. A bridge to Milroe would almost definitely be required, and it could be a full-season effort if the Raiders again fail to come out of a first round with a passer.

Titans Rumors: Darnold, Ward, Sanders, Carter, Hunter, Levis, Rudolph

March 6th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not seeing their Will Levis plan work out, the Titans have to chart a path to finding a better option. The team has an interesting dilemma, holding the No. 1 overall pick in a draft not flush with QB talent. In fact, teams may be determining only one passer will be worth taking near the top of the first round.

As Cam Ward continues to build a lead on Shedeur Sanders for the slot as this draft’s top quarterback, the Titans first must determine how much they want to spend on a free agent. Which way Tennessee goes in free agency could determine if it wants a first-round quarterback, as rumblings about the team being eager to move out of No. 1 persist.

Several teams could use at least a bridge quarterback, but Sam Darnold may be eyeing a fit that goes beyond well-paid stopgap. The Titans are believed to have interest in Darnold, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Turron Davenport, but at a price. The team wants the Vikings Pro Bowler at around $30MM per year, but may not be interested in going beyond that range. Pointing further to the Titans setting a price on Darnold, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky notes the team should be expected to bow out if the market becomes too extreme. Baker Mayfield‘s $33MM-per-year contract surfaced as a potential Darnold zone, though the cap having climbed by $24MM may make that more of a floor.

PFR’s No. 1 free agent of the 2025 class, Darnold is going into his age-28 season. The former top-three pick did not receive a Vikings franchise tag, and while Minnesota is interested in retaining him at a rate south of the $40.2MM tag, leaving him unattached opens the door to an exit. As the Vikings remain committed to J.J. McCarthy, Darnold could bolt for a situation that does not feature an immediate challenger. Of course, he would have no way of being certain — as Kirk Cousins learned last year — the team he signs with will not immediately draft a QB. Though, the Falcons’ situation — where a $90MM QB guarantee preceded a top-10 draftee at the position — was historically rare.

Options like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and perhaps Cousins — if the Falcons relent on their current stance to keep him as a backup — would be cheaper than Darnold, but the Titans having interest is notable, as it adds another known suitor for a player who has been connected to the Vikings, Giants, Raiders and Browns. Where the bidding goes will be one of this offseason’s defining storylines, as Tennessee ending up with Darnold could influence them to draft Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter at No. 1.

The Titans have received trade offers, with the Giants being the team most closely connected to a move up. Given the lack of prospect firepower in this draft, Fowler and Davenport doubt a future first-rounder would be required in a 3-to-1 move for New York. Ward has support in the Titans’ building, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. This could be a smokescreen aimed at bringing the Giants to offer more for the pick, but we will not have a clearer outlook on the Titans’ QB plans until after the initial free agency blitz next week.

While the team is still deciding its draft plan, Fowler and Davenport indicate Ward would be the likely pick as of now. The team believed the Miami prospect checked all the boxes during his Combine meeting, though his upcoming visit and pro day will be more telling. Team president Chad Brinker was at November’s Miami-Georgia Tech game, however. Ward, Sanders and Carter are visiting this week, while Fowler and Davenport adds Hunter’s Nashville trip is postponed to later this month.

Neither Ward nor Sanders have wowed as prospects, despite the former’s momentum. Ranking all the 2020s first-round QBs as prospects, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller slotted Ward 18th (behind last year’s sixth QB drafted, Bo Nix) and Sanders 20th — ahead of only Kenny Pickett. Scouts at the Combine believe Ward has separated from Sanders, per SNY’s Connor Hughes, with Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline adding the Colorado prospect’s perceived lack of improvement — along with the baggage the second-generation NFL prospect brings — has hurt his stock.

We have heard for a while this is a down QB draft and that a Ward-over-Sanders preference was forming, but if a gap grows between the two QBs, a club desperate to land Ward may increase its offer to the Titans for No. 1. No surprise prospect is expected to leapfrog the four frontrunners for No. 1, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds. If the Titans stay at 1, they would choose Ward, Sanders, Hunter or Carter. That elevates the importance of the March “30” visits.

New GM Mike Borgonzi was in Kansas City when the team held the No. 1 overall pick in 2013. In a down QB draft, the Chiefs instead traded two second-rounders to the 49ers for Alex Smith. Reid’s first Kansas City starter stayed five seasons, with the Chiefs trading up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. The Chiefs chose Eric Fisher first overall in 2013, building around Smith for a while.

Borgonzi and Brinker would have the chance to take a similar route if they chose Carter or Hunter at 1 after signing a veteran. Ward’s status throws a wrench into that plan, as no 2013 passer rivaled where Ward is as a prospect. The Titans’ decision next week will represent an important part of this year’s pre-draft process.

If the Titans go with a veteran-rookie two-fer this year, Levis’ future with the team may be in doubt. Two years remain on the disappointing second-rounder’s deal. Levis’ backup/replacement, Mason Rudolph, is a free agent once again. The Titans are open to bringing back the ex-Steeler, Borgonzi said at the Combine. Rudolph signed a one-year, $2.87MM deal last year and would be unlikely to fetch much more than that this year.

Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson Atop Giants’ QB Wish List?

March 5th, 2025 at 11:23am CST by Sam Robinson

After the Giants could not pull off a trade to land Drake Maye last year, they continue to be connected to moving up in this draft for a passer. First, however, a bridge option is drawing serious consideration.

As Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll sit on hot seats, they need to add multiple quarterbacks to their roster. Tommy DeVito is expected to be tendered as an ERFA, but New York should be expected to stash him as a third-stringer. Next week will bring clarity on the quarterback market, and the Giants should be expected to strike.

While Big Blue has been linked to an Aaron Rodgers pursuit, the soon-to-be-released Jet may not be their top veteran option. As it stands, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan indicates Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson are near the top of the Giants’ veteran wish list. Darnold’s market should be considerably pricier than Wilson’s due to the Vikings Pro Bowler being nearly nine years younger. The Giants, who are eating $20MM-plus in Daniel Jones dead money, hold just more than $47MM in cap space.

Wilson is now being viewed as likely to leave the Steelers, as links to Pittsburgh preferring to keep Justin Fields continue to circulate. Wilson should still have a starter-level path somewhere, as teams like the Jets and Raiders need starters. The Browns and Titans also will consider stopgap options, while the Colts are interested in adding a passer to compete with Anthony Richardson. If Darnold leaves Minnesota, the Vikings should be in the bridge mix as well. Wilson, 36, should fit the bill somewhere. Though, Rodgers and Kirk Cousins will also join him in that mix — along with several backup types.

A Darnold move back to New York would be quite interesting, considering his three-year Jets tenure. The Vikings passed on franchise-tagging their 2024 starter due to the $40.2MM cost, and while they are still interested in re-signing him, Darnold will likely be leery of committing to a team that only has a bridge role in mind. That said, Darnold may not be assured he will be an unquestioned starter no matter where he signs. A team could circle back to a first-round quarterback pick — in a situation that would remind of Cousins’ Atlanta signing or Mike Glennon‘s 2017 Bears deal. Darnold has also come up as a Raiders or Titans option.

The Giants have been connected to vaulting from No. 3 to No. 1 for a quarterback, and Raanan adds evaluators at the Combine viewed it as likely the team would pull off a trade — with Cam Ward in mind. Ward is beginning to separate himself from Shedeur Sanders, with reports now pegging the Miami QB as a higher-tier prospect compared to the Colorado passer. The Giants have been tied to Sanders previously, and Raanan adds he is still believed to have support in the team’s building. Though, a smokescreen effort on the team’s part also has surfaced re: Sanders.

If the Giants sign Rodgers, Wilson or Cousins — in the event he is released — Raanan adds it would not affect the team’s draft plan. It would stand to reason Darnold might, as he would require a more lofty commitment and is only going into his age-28 season. The team’s two-pronged effort to solve its QB problem, as Schoen and Daboll make a case to save their jobs, will be one of this offseason’s defining storylines.

Vikings Will Not Franchise Tag Sam Darnold

March 4th, 2025 at 2:33pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

MARCH 4: Minnesota’s decision is now official. No tag will come to pass before today’s 3pm CT deadline, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The sides will continue to discuss a deal, but Darnold is now less than a week from exploring the open market with far more momentum than he carried into 2024.

Other teams have been linked to the resurgent passer, which stands to make it difficult for the Vikings to retain him before he reaches free agency. The team has until 11am CT March 10 to negotiate exclusively with its 2024 starting quarterback. With the Vikings and Dolphins respectively passing on Darnold and Jevon Holland tags and the Cowboys re-signing Osa Odighizuwa, the 2025 tag deadline — still 20-plus minutes away — looks like it will only include two players hit with the tag (the Bengals’ Tee Higgins and Chiefs’ Trey Smith).

MARCH 3: The Vikings are not expected to place the franchise tag on quarterback Sam Darnold, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Darnold was one of this offseason’s strongest tag candidates after turning his career around in Minnesota last year.

On a one-year, $10MM deal, Darnold posted career-bests in several statistical categories and ranked fifth among all quarterbacks in passing yards and touchdowns. However, he ended the season on a low note, making an already-tough decision even more difficult for the Vikings. They could tag Darnold in the hopes that he can lead them deeper in the playoffs in 2025 or let him hit free agency and risk losing a bidding war.

Minnesota seems to have chosen the latter, though the team still has interest in retaining Darnold. They will have to do so without a franchise tag, thereby eliminating the possibility of a tag-and-trade.

A Darnold franchise tag has been considered unlikely for a few weeks. At $40.2MM, the quarterback franchise tag is too high of a one-year cap burden for the Vikings. Minnesota has the seventh-most cap space in the NFL, according to OverTheCap, but they have several starters hitting free agency that they will have to re-sign or replace.

Free agency makes the most sense for Darnold, too. After playing for four different teams over the last five years, he may be looking for a long-term home in the NFL. The Vikings still see 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy as their quarterback of the future, so any deal with Darnold would be a short-term pact. By hitting the open market, Darnold will have more flexibility to negotiate a long-term contract with the potential to incite a bidding war between QB-needy teams.

Limited Market For QB Sam Darnold?

March 1st, 2025 at 10:43pm CST by Ely Allen

After a career year on a one-year, prove-it contract, there was a bit of an expectation that Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had done an impressive bit of work to improve his contract outlook for 2025. The way the 2025 offseason has been developing, though, it’s looking like it might be a bit of a challenge for Darnold to make the most of his upward momentum, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

It almost seemed like the NFL had given up on Darnold as a starter in the league. After showing promise winning seven of 13 starts in a sophomore campaign for the Jets, any hopes were dashed when he went 2-10as a starter the next year. The Panthers gave New York some decent value in a trade just to see Darnold go 4-7 in his first year with the team and be relegated to the bench the following season.

As a free agent in 2023, Darnold signed with the 49ers having to win the backup quarterback job behind Brock Purdy over Trey Lance. After winning the backup job, he made one start in 10 appearances, getting the lowest playtime of his career.

Despite having just spent a year as a backup, Darnold signed a one-year, $10MM deal with the Vikings, who were moving on from long-time passer Kirk Cousins and drafting the College Football National Championship-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy from Michigan. Signing Darnold gave them a backup option in case McCarthy was not quite ready to take the reins as a rookie. His extensive experience as a starter made him a valuable option to compete for the starting job with the 21-year-old, an option who could also serve as a strong backup should the rookie win the job.

That competition was cut short, though, when McCarthy suffered a meniscus injury that required a full repair surgery, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season. Darnold stepped into the starting role and led the Vikings to competition for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC with a 14-3 record, recording career highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) while only throwing 12 picks. Darnold and the Vikings became the surprise of the season, and the expectation was that his value as a free agent would skyrocket as a result.

Understandably, it was potential trade target Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles that drew the most attention from teams desiring to acquire a veteran quarterback in the offseason. Now that he’s remaining with the Rams, Darnold has become the new top option. The Raiders are a team that were trying hard for Stafford, but multiple sources at The Athletic claim that they were only willing to shell out serious cash for Stafford.

After the Raiders, it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to spend serious money on the position. The Vikings have explored tagging options, but they’re extremely prepared to hand the team over to McCarthy and won’t likely be willing to dedicate much salary to Darnold to return. The Browns are already stuck paying $92MM over the next two years to continue watching Deshaun Watson not play. The Saints are sticking with Derek Carr. The Jets and Giants are theoretically options, but per Volin, it doesn’t seem like Darnold is interested in reuniting with New York and MetLife.

Tennessee seems like one of the best options to explore his value. The Titans seem to have interest in riding the Will Levis train for a bit longer, and Darnold might be a pricey bridge option. Tennessee could also use their No. 1 overall draft pick on a quarterback and, once again, use Darnold as a competitor for their rookie. Or, if pairing Darnold with Levis satisfies their needs, they could trade out of the top spot, acquiring additional draft capital while likely still being able to draft a talented first-rounder.

The best option may just be to return to Minnesota, though. The Vikings have already made it known they’re not willing to commit to a big-money, long-term deal, but he knows he fits well in the building and remains as a starting option if McCarthy struggles early. It’s disappointing that Darnold’s big year may not get rewarded in the way many expected, but he still has some interesting options to make the most of his situation.

Giants Looking At Aaron Rodgers, Other Veteran QBs

February 28th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After their failed pursuit of Matthew Stafford, the Giants are “shifting their interest” to Aaron Rodgers, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini.

Rodgers has been reaching out to teams since the Jets decided to release him, including multiple calls to the Giants, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The Giants have been discussing the possibility of signing Rodgers “all week,” according to Russini.

Acquiring Rodgers would be considerably less expensive than trading for Stafford. The Giants were prepared to give up significant draft capital and give Stafford a contract exceeding $50MM per year, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. Rodgers, meanwhile, will be a free agent once the Jets formalize his release with a post-June 1 designation. He is unlikely to command a top-of-the-market salary and signing him would not require the Giants to part with any draft picks.

Rodgers is not the Giants’ “leading candidate,” according to FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacciano. The team is discussing other free agent quarterbacks, per Hughes, including Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, and Justin Fields. The Giants had interest in Darnold last offseason, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, but he was too expensive at the time. His value has certainly risen in the last year, but so has the Giants’ need for a quarterback.

After playing for four different teams over the last five years, Darnold may be looking for a long-term situation if he hits free agency. That could clash with the Giants’ vision for the position. They would prefer to pair a veteran signing with a top rookie from this year’s draft, according to Hughes.

Rodgers might fit better into those plans. The team views the four-time MVP as a “viable option” for one season, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. The Giants could then use a first-round pick on a quarterback prospect who would sit behind Rodgers as a rookie before taking over in 2026.

That rookie would likely be either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, who are generally considered the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class. The Giants currently hold the No. 3 pick, but are exploring a trade with the Titans to acquire the first overall pick that they would then use on their preferred quarterback prospect.

Clearly, the Giants’ pursuit of a new quarterback remains fluid. Stafford was the first domino to fall, and other signings and trades will certainly impact the team’s plans. They will have to balance the financial investment of a free agent signing with the draft capital required to secure their top choice in April. The Falcons were criticized last year for signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency and using the No. 8 pick on Michael Penix a month later. That has left Atlanta at an impasse with Cousins after moving to Penix during the season, something Schoen will likely consider as he navigates the quarterback market in free agency and the draft.

Assessing Where QB Market Stands

February 27th, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

This year’s veteran quarterback market consists of at least one Hall of Famer, possibly two. Although Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are no longer in their primes, each is expected to play in 2025. Kirk Cousins is also lingering as a potential option.

Sam Darnold, however, headlines this free agent class — one that features four of the five QBs chosen in the 2021 first round. Only Justin Fields qualifies as a starter-level option from that quintet, as Mac Jones, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance will not garner attention on that level this year. Daniel Jones also hovers as an interesting option, despite his rough 2023 and ’24 showings.

The trade market, which technically includes Cousins, also has introduced a big name. The Rams continue to dangle Matthew Stafford. Even if this is merely to pinpoint his value as the sides haggle over a new contract, a handful of teams — chiefly the Raiders and Giants — have entered the fray for the former Super Bowl winner. Here is where these markets stand at the Combine:

Making sense of Stafford saga

It has now been five days since it became known the Rams were letting Matthew Stafford speak with other teams. Rather than seeking another reworking, Stafford is gunning for a new contract — and to become the oldest member of the $50MM-AAV club since Rodgers, who was there for a season. No one tied to a long-term deal averaging north of $50MM is older than 31; Stafford will play an age-37 season in 2025.

He is partially at fault for this value discrepancy. After all, Stafford had left money on the table during his initial Rams negotiations in an effort to help the team around him. That led to Stafford signing for four years and $160MM; that matched the Dak Prescott terms — though with less player-friendly language — at the time. It now sits 15th at the position..

The Browns and Steelers were loosely tied to Stafford, but the Giants and Raiders have stepped to the forefront. It would make more sense, were Stafford angling to jump to a roster that could form a contender, for him to consider the AFC North teams. But it is not known if they made serious pushes. As it stands, Giants and Raiders teams respectively coming off 3-14 and 4-13 seasons are in pursuit. The Giants have met with Stafford’s camp and asked about the QB before last year’s deadline, as their Jones plan was imploding. But the Silver and Black have done far more to indicate they are serious.

No matter how it happened, Stafford and new Raiders power broker Tom Brady met in Montana to discuss a potential fit. The Raiders have since come close on contract parameters, though it is not believed trade terms are worked out. Neither the Giants nor Raiders are open to meeting the Rams’ first-rounder asking price, as the teams hold Nos. 3 and 6. A high second-rounder headlining the package, or a potential future first, would make more sense.

Like the 49ers did with Brandon Aiyuk, the Rams still have the final say. They can opt to pay Stafford his modest roster bonus ($4MM) and work out a deal to ensure continuity for a team that has mounted stiff playoff challenges over the past two years. (As of now, however, L.A. is balking at a $50MM-per-year number.) Otherwise, the Rams risk falling backward without a quarterback plan.

Rodgers-Rams link emerges; who else makes sense for 20-year vet?

If the Rams truly go to the edge with Stafford, a report has emerged depicting Rodgers as an interested observer. Rodgers has been tied to wanting to join the Rams and to take Davante Adams with him once again. Adams was mentioned as a potential Rams target before Rodgers was thrown into the mix. It would be interesting to see the Rams try a formula that did not work for the Jets, but Rodgers — albeit at 41 — would be a capable option for far less than Stafford.

Our late-December poll about Rodgers fits did not place the Steelers as a realistic destination. Ditto the Browns. Both teams would benefit from a high-profile placeholder, though the four-time MVP’s current form may not be worth the baggage that also now comes with him.

While the Jets may not have issued an ultimatum regarding Rodgers’ Pat McAfee Show appearances, they are believed to have discussed the matter — as Gang Green’s new regime quickly decided to move on. A Jets team that lacks a surefire route to acquiring a more talented QB in 2025 announcing it would move on from Rodgers so soon is rather telling.

The Giants have not been tied to Rodgers, despite their Stafford pursuit and the team having no QBs contracted presently. If the Titans were to trade down from No. 1 overall, a veteran bridge would be logical as well. Thus far, however, Rodgers connections beyond the Rams have not surfaced.

Steelers to make internal call?

Thus far, the Steelers have been tied to a Wilson-or-Fields decision. The team has entered talks with both players, as the longstanding organizational policy prevents in-season negotiations. Early rumors pointed to Fields having a better chance to come back than Wilson, and the fifth-year veteran is interested in staying — should he receive a legitimate chance to start. Considering the raise the Steelers would need to authorize to either keep Fields off the open market or outbid other curious teams, it would stand to reason any arrangement in which Fields stays in Pittsburgh would come with a good chance to start.

Fields has long believed to have support in the Steelers’ building, dating back to when he closed the gap on Wilson — long positioned as the favorite for the job during the 2024 offseason — leading to a late Mike Tomlin decision. Although Fields did not show much improvement from his Bears form as a passer while filling in for Wilson, the Tomlin call to give the veteran the job back was not unanimous.

After Wilson struggled down the stretch (albeit with a limited receiving corps), suddenly he has not been as closely linked to the Steelers (though, he has repeatedly stated he wants to stay). Wilson, 36, would be competing with Rodgers (and perhaps Cousins) as a high-profile stopgap were the Steelers to work out something with Fields.

The Giants have been loosely tied to Wilson, whom they hosted on a short visit last year. That could be a team to monitor if this Steelers situation breaks Fields’ way, but a Pete Carroll reunion in Vegas — if Stafford and/or the Rams balk about a divorce — has been floated as a possibility.

Will Falcons really keep Cousins as backup?

Terry Fontenot has twice indicated the Falcons are fine keeping Cousins as a backup. He would be the most expensive backup in NFL history, being on a four-year deal worth $180MM. That contract came with $90MM at signing, covering Cousins’ 2025 salary. The Falcons would also owe him $10MM more, in the form of a 2026 roster bonus that vests a year out, if he is still on the roster on Day 5 of the 2025 league year.

The team paying Cousins that bonus would be interesting, but this situation does differ a bit from the Broncos’ decision to cut Wilson, as they the AFC West club was protecting itself against his 2025 base salary becoming guaranteed. The Falcons already have to eat a $27.5MM base, regardless of how they proceed with the 14th-year vet, but they would have a faint hope of trading the Cousins contract. That makes Atlanta’s route interesting, as Fontenot is now 0-for-4 in playoff berths or .500 seasons as a GM. Michael Penix Jr. emerging as a solid starter would minimize the damage from the Cousins miss, but time would seem to be running out on a struggling decision-maker.

The Browns have been linked to Cousins, who played under Kevin Stefanski for two seasons in Minnesota. Considering the Browns’ Deshaun Watson mess extends through 2026, Cousins on a vet-minimum deal — what he would almost certainly be tied to due were the Falcons to cut him, due to offset language in his current contract — would seem rather enticing for Cleveland. Cleveland also has a direct path to either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, however. Cousins may be leery of finding himself in the same situation as 2024, but after a down season, the soon-to-be 37-year-old’s options will be limited.

The Vikings’ decision

In a more commanding position with Darnold than they were with Cousins in 2024, the Vikings could send the best free agent option to the market or hang onto him as either high-priced J.J. McCarthy insurance (via the franchise tag) or a trade asset (in a tag-and-trade move). Either way, this is a much better spot for Minnesota compared to last year, when its starter left and stuck the team with a $28.5MM dead money bill.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been cagey about his choice, but less than a week remains until the Vikings must decide on a tag. No tag by 3pm CT on March 4 would effectively send Darnold to free agency. This would be a better financial path for the rejuvenated passer, who played for $4.5MM in 2023 and $10MM in 2024. A host of QB-needy teams would pursue Darnold, ensuring plenty of guaranteed money will be available beyond Year 1. The Raiders were connected early, and other teams would be ready to enter the mix. Back in December, the Browns were mentioned as a party monitoring this situation

We have heard the Vikings being a bit leery of applying the tag, at more than $40MM, which could open the door to the team letting Darnold walk and huddling back up with Jones as a much cheaper McCarthy insurance option. Kevin O’Connell has spoken highly of Jones, who could be a Darnold-, Baker Mayfield– or Geno Smith-like rejuvenation candidate under the reigning Coach of the Year. Jones would be far less costly than Darnold. The six-year Giant would be a bridge candidate elsewhere, on a one-year deal, but he would naturally be interested in seeing how the Vikings handle the Darnold matter.

A rumor about McCarthy needing plenty of work included a GM predicting the Vikings tag Darnold to protect themselves; more Darnold tag rumors also surfaced before his struggles in Week 18 and in Round 1. Despite his late-season faceplant, the former No. 3 overall pick belatedly delivered on his USC hype under O’Connell. After Mayfield and Smith proved their resurgences were far from fluky, Darnold will be the unquestioned prize on this year’s market. The Vikings will, then, have the most important say in this year’s free agency.

Sam Darnold Deal Possible In Minnesota; Franchise Tag Unlikely

February 21st, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Ely Allen

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter today and dropped an interesting update on the situation regarding free agent quarterback Sam Darnold. While Darnold has been viewed as a potential franchise tag candidate, Fowler’s report seems to indicate that that would not be the most likely option for the Vikings.

With the way the franchise tag costs are determined, the projected cost for tagging a quarterback is around $42.39MM. Minnesota’s stance is reportedly that they don’t intend to “mortgage their future” in order to retain the 27-year-old quarterback who led them to a 14-3 record last season. That doesn’t mean that the team isn’t open to retaining Darnold on a new contract. Fowler indicates that if Darnold fetches big bucks on the free agent market, they would likely let him walk, but a reasonable deal could see Darnold return for another season.

The main takeaway from the report is that the Vikings still view first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy as their future at the position. The No. 10 overall pick in last year’s draft missed his entire rookie season after fully tearing the meniscus in his right knee. The expectation is that, whether it takes six, 12, or 18 months, McCarthy will eventually take over as QB1, and if someone else is starting in 2025, it’s merely as a placeholder.

That mentality makes the approach to Darnold’s contract make a lot of sense. As much as the team would love to have Darnold back after his breakout season, a cost anywhere close to $40MM would be far too much for a bridge starter. Fowler offers that another veteran, Daniel Jones, would make far more sense as a re-signing. Jones spent the last six weeks of last season in Minnesota after getting waived by the Giants, giving him some familiarity. If the intention is to bring in a one-year starter until McCarthy is ready, Jones would certainly make more fiscal sense than Darnold.

It will all likely depend on just what Darnold fetches in the free agent market. The team is no longer expected to tag last year’s starter, and if his market isn’t very competitive, he may return on a reasonable deal. Otherwise expect McCarthy or a placeholder for McCarthy like Jones to be the plan for 2025.

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