The NFL offseason always delivers its fair share of quarterback drama. This year, Sam Darnold might be at the center of it. Darnold now finds himself in an uncertain position after leading the Vikings to a 14-win season and earning a surprising Pro Bowl selection. His future in Minnesota is murky. Darnold can sling it under the Orlando sun. But can he dodge the ghosts of the playoff past? That’s the chatter heating up NFL debates after the Vikings QB’s Pro Bowl magic collided with brutal fan backlash.

Darnold’s 2024 season was a rollercoaster. He lit up the stat sheet with 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns. A plus? His 100+ passer rating. And it earned him his first Pro Bowl nod. But when the stakes soared, he stumbled. Crushing losses to the Lions in the final regular season game and Rams in the playoffs left Vikings fans groaning. Now, ESPN’s Ben Solak reports Darnold could command $30-40 million annually on the open market—a price tag that’s split opinions league-wide. But here’s the twist.

Teams are desperate for QB talent. Solak argues Darnold’s arm strength and 2024 revival make him a hot commodity. Besides, he is even suggesting a jaw-dropping four-year, $140 million deal. “Darnold will command $30-40 million on a new contract. A conservative estimate places him on a three-year deal worth about $30 million annually—just below Baker Mayfield’s yearly figure and just above that of Geno Smith,” Solak noted. But critics fire back: He vanished when it mattered most.

The Raiders, Steelers, and Giants top Darnold’s suitor list. Las Vegas is entering the Pete Carroll era. And they seem primed to gamble. Pittsburgh might crave an upgrade despite (a lack of) playoff grit. New York? Imagine the drama if Darnold steps into the starter shoes formerly filled by Daniel Jones before he joined him in the Vikings locker room. But hold up—could Minnesota still re-sign him?

Solak thinks yes. “Smart teams don’t let quarterbacks who just performed well over a 14-win season leave the building easily,” he says. Yet Vikings fans aren’t buying it. Many prefer turning the page with rookie JJ McCarthy waiting. “Darnold was very good this year, but his play in the two most important games outweighs a lot of that,” argued SI’s Will Ragatz. Paying him starter money could handcuff the cap—and test fan patience. But what are the fans actually thinking?

Fans roast Darnold’s Pro Bowl glory

Cue the Pro Bowl Skills Showdown. Darnold scored 39 points in “Passing the Test,” trailing Jared Goff’s 44. Fans pounced faster than a blitz. “At least his release time was better,” one tweeted. Another jabbed, “But couldn’t rip it in the playoffs f—— trash. Lol.” Even his effort drew sarcasm.

One fan wrote, “A parting gift for the fans! 🎁.” The schtick? No pads, no pressure—just trivia and targets. Yet the contrast stung. “Where was this when we needed it?” a Vikings supporter lamented. Besides, Darnold’s Pro Bowl highs couldn’t mask his playoff lows. And it fuels doubts about his clutch gene. Meanwhile, the Raiders loom.

Armed with cap space and Tom Brady’s front-office ambition, they’re eyeing Sam Darnold as a safer bet than draft risks like Shedeur Sanders. But Minnesota’s choice remains pivotal. Keep Darnold as a pricey insurance policy? Or let him walk and build around McCarthy?

Darnold’s saga underscores the NFL’s QB hunger as free agency nears. Teams will overpay for potential. They’ll bank on system fits and fresh starts. But the memory of January’s collapse lingers for fans. “The era of JJM has commenced,” declared a tweet. Whether Darnold’s next chapter unfolds in purple, black, or blue, one truth sticks: Pro Bowl confetti can’t gloss over playoff ghosts.