5 potential trade destinations for Sam Darnold before 2022 camp
By Dean Jones
Sam Darnold could join the Minnesota Vikings
As stated previously, the chances of another team trading for Sam Darnold and starting him right out of the gate are remote at best. The quarterback simply hasn’ t produced the goods over his first four years in the league and with almost every organization set with what they have, a backup role is the best possible outcome elsewhere if the Carolina Panthers find someone better.
Looking around the NFL to see which teams need assistance in a backup capacity, the Minnesota Vikings might be one such offense despite the ultra-reliability of Kirk Cousins from a health perspective.
The Vikings have a new offnsive-minded coach running things after Kevin O’Connell replaced Mike Zimmer this offseason. Cousins was given a new one-year deal and remains their best option, but whether Kellen Mond can show the new regime enough in the coming weeks will tell us plenty about his long-term future.
If Minnesota doesn’t like what it sees from Mond in camp, then trading for Darnold is an outside the box option that could be a great fit for the player. It would allow the signal-caller time to immerse himself in O’Connell’s scheme, learn from the sidelines, and be around a roster that has playoff aspirations for the first time.
The situations involving Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Mitchell Trubisky are proof positive that Darnold could reinvented himself elsewhere. But whether a team like the Vikings takes the plunge is another matter.