The NFL doesn’t do sympathy. Put yourself in the shoes of a quarterback who racked up impressive numbers—14 wins, over 4,300 passing yards, 35 touchdowns (tied 5th in the league)—only to see one heartbreaking Wild Card loss tear apart his future with a storied franchise. Okay, two losses, including the Week 18 game that could have given him a bye week to start the postseason. For the veteran, those losses weren’t just a statistic; they were a turning point. As his franchise shifts its focus to a fresh face, the whispers of a trade have begun to intensify.

It’s the kind of cold business decision that stings, but Sam Darnold has been here before. From being cast aside by the Jets to bouncing through Carolina and San Francisco, he’s learned that in the NFL, survival is about staying valuable. And as the Vikings prepare to move on, one veteran-loving coach might be ready to give him another shot. Pete Carroll, now steering the Raiders, isn’t in the mood to develop a rookie. He needs a quarterback who’s been through the fire, and Darnold might be exactly that. 

Last week, rumors of the Raiders’ potential signing of Matthew Stafford were going around like crazy. The rumor mill started after the QB was seen hanging out with Las Vegas minority owner Tom Brady at a Montana ski resort. Well, truth be told, the Raiders do need a QB, and they are going the veteran way. So, Stafford was indeed a great option. But with the Rams working things out with him, that door is closed. So now, Pete Carroll might knock at Sam Darnold’s door.

The Raiders’ GM John Spytek and HC Carroll are reportedly more interested in acquiring an experienced QB over drafting a young one. They still have a few options out there, like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. But the problem with Rodgers is that he has now hit the 40+ mark. Not to mention all the drama the Jets had in 2024 with him as the QB. Carroll is not a coach who would let that happen with his team. As for Russ, well, it’s still not clear if the Steelers would release him, re-sign him as the backup, or even as a starter. So that leaves the Raiders with Sam Darnold.

“People close to Sam Darnold tell me that Raiders coach Pete Carroll will work to make a move to acquire the quarterback from the Vikings,” reported Tony Pauline. 

Tag or test free agency: What’s next for Sam Darnold?

Kevin O’Connell has always had Sam Darnold’s back, even when the QB failed the team in the Wild Card round. The HC has been vouching for the team to keep Sam. But the Vikings‘ management are finding it hard to change their image of him as the backup until J.J. McCarthy was healthy enough to lead the team. Had Sam led the team to a deeper playoff run or the Super Bowl, things might have been different. So now, the question is, what do the Vikings have in store for him? Are they releasing him or putting a franchise tag on him? Well, HC Kevin made it clear the week after the Super Bowl that they will let him test free agency.

“Look, you guys know how I feel about Sam…everybody in our league now thinks he’s a bona fide legitimate starting quarterback and can win a lot of football games…So he’s earned the right to be a free agent, but we will continue to have ongoing dialogue and discussions with him and his representation.”

Minnesota has until Tuesday to decide if they want to place the franchise tag on the QB. But that would be costly. If the Vikings tag Sam, he would pocket a fully guaranteed $40.24 million for the 2025 season. If they tag him next season as well, to mentor McCarthy as he develops, they’ll have to pay $48.29 million. In that case, even J.J. might not stay with the team for too long as a backup.

Tony Pauline provided some context: “And things continue to trend poorly for the @Vikings and a potential tag and trade for Sam Darnold. Minnesota will likely have to play the comp game in this years free agency to recoup a potential 2026 3rd-round pick. Don’t expect them to be “big spenders”.”

Well, for now, let’s wait to see if they put a franchise tag on Sam by Tuesday or not. And if not, keep your eyes on the Raiders to pick him up from free agency!