Vikings Hope to Bounce Back with Their Former First-Overall Pick in 2026
In 2024, the Vikings finished a 14-win season and a playoff berth. Sent back to the drawing board after Kirk Cousins' departure, the team hoped for a smooth rebuild. Instead, with a revitalized Sam Darnold, the Vikings ran the table. The season came to a crashing end after a lackluster performance in the Wild Card Round. After surprising the football world, the team’s upper brass found themselves with a peculiar question. Do they resign the former Jets quarterback? Minnesota chose to let Darnold walk. The Vikings instead used the Darnold money to bolster their defense, turning to their 2024 first-round pick, JJ McCarthy.
Prelude to 2025
The Vikings have been one of the league's stronger teams for a while. Captained by All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, Minnesota was constantly in playoff contention. Cousins and Jefferson led the team in 2022 to the playoffs before being upset in the Wild Card Round by the Giants. Unfettered, they bounced back in 2023, just before tragedy. In Week Eight, Cousins went down with a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season early. The former Commanders quarterback decided in the offseason that his time in Minnesota was done. After a dreadful season, the Vikings ended up with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Their decision was made easy by the quarterbacks already off the board, placing McCarthy firmly in their laps.
To add a bridge quarterback and mentor, the Vikings signed Darnold. Unfortunately for Minnesota, McCarthy would go down with a torn muscle, ending his season in the preseason. What everybody was talking about was the revival of a once-scrutinized quarterback. The Vikings had always been in a position to win. Going from an above-average quarterback to an ascending star means Minnesota picked up right where they left off in 2023. In addition to an already competitive team, the head coach is Kevin O’Connell, who has been touted by analysts, experts, and other high-ranking NFL executives as one of the best offensive minds of the modern NFL. It’s hard to argue with the results. Under O’Connell and the Vikings’ abundant offensive weapons, he flourished. 2024 was the former Trojan’s best season of his career. Darnold was named to his first Pro Bowl and finished with 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, a 66% complete percentage, and a 14-3 record.
A Pivotal Decision With Huge Implications
Understandably, after the season he just had, Darnold was looking to get paid. His one-year prove-it deal had played out beautifully. The Vikings appeared to be out on their All-Pro quarterback almost immediately. Daronld ended up signing for $100 million, while Minnesota went in a different direction. Choosing to instead lean on their first-round quarterback on a rookie contract. Once free agency began, the front office got to work. The Vikings had come out of nowhere as one of the best defensive teams in the NFL. Picking up key pieces in Byron Murphy, Jonathan Allen, and Javon Hargrave. They didn’t stop at the defense, shoring up more crucial positions, starting with Aaron Jones, Ryan Kelly, and Will Fries.
The Diaster
The Vikings had put together a solid squad capable of making a deep playoff run. Despite the talent on the roster, McCarthy wasn’t ready. The NFL has a development problem with its quarterbacks. Darnold was the previous victim of circumstance before turning it around. The former Wolverine struggled mightily in his NFL debut. McCarthy had become a turnover machine, ending the season with 12 interceptions to 11 touchdowns. The wings of a previously high-flying Minnesota offense had been snipped. The team struggled to move the ball down the field. The frustration began to boil over with one of the league’s best receivers having his worst season as a pro. Jefferson didn’t lose a step, though, or get injured. In fact, more often than not, he was open. Slapping a bow on top, McCarthy was hurt for multiple games before his season was ended due to injury. One thing was clear, though: McCarthy was not ready to start.
A Ray of Hope Appears
O’Connell had not had enough time in-season to fix his floundering young quarterback. NFL timelines move fast, and if you can’t perform, then you will be replaced. The Vikings are in a position to win, pushing McCarthy’s timeline forward at a breakneck pace. Minnesota needs an answer for its quarterback problem and soon. Fortunately, a former first overall pick was ending a messy relationship in Arizona.
The Cardinals took Kyler Murray as their franchise quarterback in 2019. After multiple seasons of failed attempts, the Cardinals were ready to move on. After another disastrous season in 2025, Arizona waived its once champion. On paper, it’s a match made in heaven. An offensive genius and an aging quarterback looking to rediscover his glory. We’ve seen this before, just one season ago.
Once again, the pieces are in place. The Vikings find themselves in a winning position once again. A pairing of O’Connell and Murray opens up many different possibilities on the field. The former Cardinal’s ability to make plays on the run is his strength. He can easily salvage a broken play, whether he hits a receiver on the run or takes the ball himself. Murray is a threat at every point, forcing defenses to hone in on him. The Vikings project to be an exciting team next; they are a dark horse that everyone should look out for.
