When J.J. McCarthy looked set to start the season for Minnesota, many felt Sam Darnold’s career was heading for a Vikings burial.
But the rookie’s heartbreaking season-ending knee injury handed the former No.3 pick a third chance as a starting quarterback.
Darnold has been a revelation with the VikingsGetty Images – Getty
Preseason predictions had poor play under center holding back the franchise, with superstar Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson left frustrated.
But inside the organization, there was confidence in their quarterback – as revealed to talkSPORT by teammate Josh Metellus.
And Darnold has defied expectations, throwing for 857 yards and eight touchdowns to lead Minnesota to a 3-0 start.
If the 27-year-old can continue his resurgence, he could prove to be another success story from a 2018 draft class that also included superstars Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
The New York Jets thought they had secured the future of their franchise when they drafted Darnold third overall out of USC.
He is good friends with Allen, who went to the Buffalo Bills four picks later, and the duo used to work out together in the offseason.
Both struggled in their first two seasons in the NFL.
Ahead of their third campaign, Allen revealed they had been learning from each other despite a divisional rivalry.
“I love being around him,” he told SiriusXM.
“I’ll say this about Sam, as a thrower I don’t know if you can find somebody that spins the ball more than he does. He spins it so well that the ball is really shaking.
“(I’ve taken) some things from his mechanics and tried to apply them to my game and vice versa.
The Vikings have gone 3-0 to defy expectationsAP:Associated Press
Allen and Jackson are among the jewels of the Class of 2018Getty Images – Getty
“It’s fun to kind of talk to somebody who’s kind of going through the same thing.”
But while Allen broke out as one of the NFL’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in 2020, Darnold slumped to a disastrous 2-10 record.
He was traded to the Carolina Panthers for second, fourth and sixth-round picks, going 8-9 as a starter before ending up as the San Francisco 49ers backup in 2023.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan watched Darnold mastermind a 23-17 victory over his former team in Week 2 and may have wondered if he had worked a little bit too much magic in their season together.
The class of ’18 became notorious for several quarterback whiffs as analysts pointed to the fact that two-time MVP Jackson slipped to the Baltimore Ravens with the final pick of the first round.
Josh Rosen – picked 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals – Darnold, and No1 pick Baker Mayfield, who starred for the Cleveland Browns as a rookie before becoming a journeyman, were all slammed.
Rosen is out of the league, but just as Darnold is enjoying a new lease of life in new surroundings, Mayfield is looking more like his swashbuckling self with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs came crashing down to earth with a chastening 26-7 defeat to the Denver Broncos in Week 3 but are 2-1 after racking up 57 points in their first two outings.
With six passing touchdowns in 2024, Mayfield is behind only Darnold and Allen (seven), having led the Bucs to the NFC South title last season.
The 2018 Draft is as good a proof as any that quarterbacks need time, with Allen overcoming a slow start.
Mayfield burned too bright as a rookie but is making a mockery of the Browns’ decision to part ways, especially after their disastrous Deshaun Watson trade hobbled them for years to come.
It needs to be said that Darnold has benefitted from Sean McVay disciple Kevin O’Connell’s razor-sharp mind and playcalling as his head coach.
The Vikings’ impressive offensive line allowing him an average time to throw of 3.03 seconds – and Jefferson being on the end of his downfield heaves – are also major factors.
Mayfield could also prove to be a franchise QBGetty
But after signing a one-year deal worth $10million, Darnold has given the Vikings a major decision to make come the end of the season.
One of the major questions over 10th overall selection McCarthy was his lack of experience.
The 21-year-old needed an operation to repair his meniscus and will now miss valuable reps.
Vikings bosses would be taking a major gamble relying on him to take the reins in his sophomore season and may look to extend Darnold.
If he continues to play at a high level, that will set them back considerably more than his current deal.
Darnold needed an MRI after suffering a bone bruise in Week 3 and takes on a Green Bay Packers defense that is more than capable of dragging him back to earth next.
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