The Vikings‘ season is over and done. And yes, I’m twisting the knife a little. But let’s not dwell on the pain—that’s not the real question here. The real question is this: who’s calling the shots under center next season? It’s a decision that could reshape the future of the franchise, and with the clock already ticking, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Will Minnesota play it safe, sticking with what they have, or will they make a bold move that rewrites their destiny? One thing’s for sure: whatever they decide will define their next chapter.

“I’m franchising Sam Darnold. I’m not letting him get out of the building because I don’t know what’s going on with J.J. McCarthy’s knee,” said NFL analyst Jason Fitz. This sentiment presents the dilemma perfectly. ‘They have a nearly $58 million salary cap left over, just for context’. While the Vikings are still looking for long-term consistency, Darnold could provide the bridge they desperately need. Even if they don’t plan on keeping him, Fitz suggests that franchising him could allow the Vikings to maintain stability while exploring other options. “Even if they don’t want to keep him, I would still franchise him and try and manufacture or sign and trade,” Fitz added. It’s a move that ensures they don’t leave their quarterback situation to god.

Fitz’s take fits into a bigger trend in the NFL, where teams use the franchise tag to keep control over a player they’re not sure about or might want to trade later. Take

Dak Prescott in 2020, for example—Dallas tagged him to buy more time to figure out his future, and it eventually led to a long-term deal. The Vikings could do the same with Darnold. If they decide he’s not the guy, they can trade him for picks or hang onto him for another year while still figuring out their next move at quarterback. Fitz kept it real about Darnold‘s play, admitting, “So like I think having somebody like Sam Darnold, even though it was flawed the last two games of the season, I think that’s really fair.” Basically, Darnold wasn’t perfect, but Fitz still sees the value in keeping him around. Why? Because the Vikings have a rookie QB contract in the mix, which gives them the freedom to spend. “I don’t care. I got a quarterback on a rookie contract. I’ll treat the quarterback position as one overall dollar amount,” he says. Translation? They could keep Darnold without messing up their cap situation, making sure they’ve got some stability while figuring out their next move.

Peeking at Darnold’s stats—over 4,300 passing yards and 35 touchdowns this season alone. It’s clear that he’s not without potential. Yet, his inconsistency has always been a concern. But the reality is, with their playoff window open for next season as well(hopefully), the Vikings simply can’t afford to restart the search for a quarterback. Holding onto Darnold may not guarantee perfection, but it gives Minnesota a stable foundation to build on while they explore their future options. With his talent, Darnold might just be the player to carry them through the next chapter.

Letting Sam Darnold slip away would be a gamble, 50 on red and 50 on black. But they can’t afford to take it right now. After years of searching for a permanent quarterback solution, losing Darnold could send them back into the unknown. He may not be the perfect answer, but with his experience, he’s the best option Minnesota has. Keeping him in the fold ensures they don’t risk their championship aspirations while figuring out their long-term plan.

A bright future, but is he ready?

While Sam Darnold could serve as the short-term solution, J.J. McCarthy remains the Vikings’ long-term hope. However, questions linger about his readiness. “Last year was supposed to be a learning year for J.J. McCarthy, but you can make the argument that he didn’t really get the opportunity to learn the way they wanted him to,” Fitz noted. After two knee surgeries, McCarthy’s development has been delayed, and his path to starting is far from certain.

Fitz also warns about rushing McCarthy into the spotlight: “Do you really want to step back? We got to remember that this is a team that last year was putting people in at quarterback that we didn’t even remember was in the NFL.” The Vikings have faced quarterback uncertainty before, and jumping the gun with McCarthy could derail their 2025-2026 season hopes.

While McCarthy’s future potential is undeniable, Minnesota needs to approach it cautiously—there’s no room for mistakes if they do. They might not even come to playoffs like this season. So, you do get that the stakes are so high. The Vikings’ management also needs to know that.