Minnesota Vikings DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

ESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the Minnesota Vikings are in no rush to place the franchise tag on impending free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold despite his career year in 2024. It doesn't mean they won't eventually use it on the 27-year-old signal-caller, and it doesn't rule out the team giving him a multi-year extension. Another option is that the Vikings tag Darnold and then trade him for draft-pick compensation. Keeping Darnold on the tag in 2025 would cost Minnesota around $40 million, which would be a questionable decision with former first-rounder J.J. McCarthy (knee) waiting in the wings as the franchise QB. Seifert believes the most likely scenario is that the team lets Darnold sign elsewhere while saving the tag for a player like cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024. Darnold set career-highs last year across the board but also had just one TD and a 53% completion percentage in the last two games.

The Indianapolis Colts will likely have quarterback Anthony Richardson under center to begin the 2025 campaign, but after Richardson's struggles to begin his career, the team would be wise to sign a backup with upside. Richardson has completed just 50.6% of his passes for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions through his first 15 games. According to Colts reporter James Boyd of The Athletic, former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones could be a free-agent target for Indianapolis. "Ballard made it clear the Colts will bring in another QB to push Anthony Richardson, and my best guess on who that quarterback will be is Daniel Jones," Boyd wrote. "I suspect my No. 1 choice, Justin Fields, will stay in Pittsburgh, making Jones the next-best/most realistic option in free agency because of his dual-threat abilities." Jones has passed for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions in 70 career games. While it's tough to be optimistic about his future, quarterbacks have gone on to find success with new teams in the past.

Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (ankle) had a "simple procedure" done on his ankle on Wednesday. Ham was on the team's injury report with an ankle injury toward the end of the 2024 season, but he didn't miss any games. The 31-year-old veteran fullback shouldn't face a lengthy recovery timeline after having a minor surgery on his ankle and should be able to take part in most of the team's offseason workouts. He will not be anywhere near the fantasy radar once again going into the 2025 campaign after seeing only two carries for 10 yards and one touchdown and adding five receptions on six targets for 35 yards through the air in 17 regular-season games in his eighth year with the Vikings in 2024. In his eight NFL seasons, Ham has only 39 rushing attempts for 114 yards and four TDs and has caught 82 passes for 670 yards and two TDs in 130 games played.

The Athletic's Zac Jackson writes that the Cleveland Browns might only be able to afford players like the Atlanta Falcons' Kirk Cousins or Minnesota Vikings' Daniel Jones as their bridge quarterback this offseason. According to Over the Cap, Cleveland is projected to be $38.6 million over the 2025 salary cap, but the next anticipated restructure of QB Deshaun Watson's contract will clear up around $36 million in cap space. The status of QBs Derek Carr, Geno Smith and Russell Wilson will dictate how expensive Cousins and Jones will be this offseason. Cousins isn't a free agent, but the Atlanta Falcons probably will find it hard to trade him because of the $10 million roster bonus he's due after the start of the new league year. Cousins has familiarity with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski from their days with the Vikings. The Browns are expected to draft a QB at No. 2 overall this year, but Cousins could make sense as a bridge starter if he becomes a free agent.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (knee), who missed all of his rookie year in the NFL after having knee surgery for a torn right meniscus, is expected to be ready for organized team activities this spring. He should be able to return to football activities in the next couple of weeks. However, the Vikings are still considering all of their options with impending free-agent QB Sam Darnold, who had a career year in Minnesota on a one-year deal in 2024. If Minnesota doesn't re-sign Darnold by March 4, they could place a franchise tag on him, which could allow McCarthy to develop for one more year behind Darnold. The Vikings also still have former Giants QB Daniel Jones, so if Darnold leaves in free agency, Jones would be an insurance policy in case the team doesn't feel McCarthy is ready to start early in the 2025 season.