NFL

Shannon Sharpe Doesn’t Want Vikings To Re-Sign QB Sam Darnold, Despite MVP-Caliber Season

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The Minnesota Vikings entered the 2024 season projected to be a bottom-half team, when their first round quarterback draft selection, JJ McCarthy, went down with a season-ending meniscus injury.

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Nevertheless, the Vikings have defied the odds, as they are now serious contenders with a 11-2 record.

Many have pointed out that the unsung hero this year is none other than journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold, who is playing lights out and has put up impressive numbers, which should presumably put him near the MVP conversation.

That is to say, in his seventh season, Darnold has thrown for 3,299 yards (6th in NFL), completing 68.4% of his passes, while contributing 28 touchdowns (tied-3rd) and 10 interceptions. Overall, the 27-year-old has a 108.1 passer rating, which is third-best in the NFL this season.

However, not everyone believes the Vikings should retain Darnold, as they perceive McCarthy as the quarterback of the future.

In particular, NFL hall of famer Shannon Sharpe has come out and said that the Vikings should not sign Darnold to a long-term deal, by referencing the team's Top-10 draft pick, McCarthy.

"Sam Darnold, now he's bounced around. I get it, he is playing unbelievable," Sharpe said. "I didn't think he had this in him, but he does have Jordan Addison, he has Hockenson, he has Jetta [Jefferson], he has Aaron Jones and he's backed it up playing well... And he's going to make a boatload of money playing somewhere else."

The former Broncos tight end continued, "You drafted JJ McCarthy (No. 10 overall) for a reason. And guess what, if JJ McCarthy hadn't gotten hurt, Sam Darnold wouldn't even see the field."

In view of this sentiment, some believe Coach of the Year candidate, Kevin O'Connell, is the driving force behind the team's success, as ever since taking over in 2022, the Vikings have posted a 31-17 record. To note, the 39-year-old coach actually has the 3rd-best winning percentage (.727) for one-score games in NFL history (minimum 25 games); he only trails John Madden (.732) and Guy Chamberlin (.759).

Certainly, Kirk Cousins put up career-high numbers under O'Connell during his last two years in Minnesota.

With this in mind, in Cousins' return to U.S. Bank Stadium, Darnold outshined the new Falcons $180-million-dollar quarterback, by throwing five more touchdowns.

To emphasize, on Sunday Darnold posted a 157.9 passer rating, which broke a Vikings franchise single-game record.

Compared to other star quarterbacks in the NFC North, Darnold has the most passing yards and touchdowns. Notably, he is also doing this on a backup-quarterback's salary.

At this rate, Darnold (3,493 passing yards, 29 TD's/10 INT's) is on pace for 4,314 passing yards 38 total touchdowns.

Compared with Sharpe, former Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman has shared a much differing sentiment regarding what the Vikings should do at quarterback.

"I think it's in Minnesota's best interest to just keep continuity," Sherman said. "... I don't think you bring a rookie coming off an injury into the National Football League, who hasn't played a down, and replace a quarterback who is playing as well as Sam Darnold has been for your team, and really winning you a lot of these games."

Sherman concluded, "Maybe JJ McCarthy comes in and does just as well, but I don't want to risk that if I am the Minnesota Vikings."

As for McCarthy, he certainly has the tools to have success in the NFL, as the dual-threat quarterback led Michigan to a 27-1 record in two full seasons as a starter, in addition to capturing a national championship.

There are many who believe McCarthy is the best quarterback in Michigan's school history, and that is saying something considering seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady was also a Wolverine (2000 NFL draft selection- 6th round, 199th pick).

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