Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold resurrected his career by leading the Vikings to 14 wins in 2024 while posting career-highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35), but he came crashing down hard in losses to the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round in which he had a combined 23 off-target throws and took 11 sacks. Darnold's future is now as unsettled as ever as he heads toward free agency in March, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Darnold is still the top free-agent QB. The teams that Fowler has spoken with recently forecasted Darnold in the Geno Smith/Baker Mayfield weight class of contracts. Mayfield got a three-year, $100 million deal last offseason with Tampa, while Smith signed a three-year, $75 million deal before the 2023 season. Darnold tanked to end the year, but he did enough to find work as a starter somewhere else if Minnesota doesn't want him back.

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson brought in all five of his targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The 27-year-old was able to break free for a nifty 26-yard catch-and-run late in the third quarter, but that would be the team's only TD -- and highlight -- of the game. The Vikings' offense fizzled out for the second straight week as quarterback Sam Darnold's late-season collapse continued. It's an unfortunate ending to the season for Minnesota, who won 14 games and was on the brink of a first-round bye. Still, Hockenson can find a silver lining in that he did not re-injure the knee that kept him out of the season's first seven games. He'll now turn to 2025 with uncertainty at quarterback.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison caught 3-of-8 targets for 29 yards in his team's 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round. It was a forgettable day for the entire Vikings offense, as quarterback Sam Darnold was put in the dirt on nine occasions. Addison was the intended target on a few deep shots and could have had a more significant outing, but had trouble corralling most of the targets. The sophomore wideout performed well in a complementary role to his superstar teammate Justin Jefferson in 2024, and the two should continue to be a dynamic duo for the foreseeable future. However, it's impossible to know who will man the helm for Minnesota next season at this time. J.J. McCarthy (knee) is recovering from injury, while Darnold and Nick Mullens are set to be free agents, leaving Daniel Jones as the only healthy QB on the roster.