Sam Darnold Free Agency Landing sites: Five possible team fits

A quality -nfl -start -quarterback? For most of the year, Sam Darnold saw the part – right until he didn’t.

Remains of Darnold’s Frigid Finish are difficult to forget, gather around him as a moat because of the importance of the two losses to Minnesota, as a result of his icy performances.

After 13 matches with a passing rating of 100-Plus and 14 wins in their first 16 matches with the Vikings, Darnold crashed in the winner-all regular season finale at Detroit for the NFC North title. He finished 18 out of 41 passes (43.9%) and was on average 4.05 meters per pass with a 55.5 passing rating. Instead of the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, the 14-win Vikings for a wild card play against NFC West winner Los Angeles (in Arizona). Playoff Sam was not much better: 25 out of 40 and dismissed nine times.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that the Vikings would welcome Darnold back and tried a public friendly defense of Darnold’s nosediv and advised the public to assess the quarterback on his work during the 2024 season.

The reality is, Darnold lost a significant amount of money in these two Spotlight games and enters free agency in complete concern. Law will see the body as one thing, and his show during the burden of the playoffs as an unforgettable truth.

Can Darnold win games in the NFL? Safe. Will he win when it means something? Ehhhhhh.

The best roads forward for Darnold are without guarantee for a No 1 job. He could do well in the role he was signed by the Vikings to fill: Bridge Quarterback and mentor for the first round to JJ McCarthy.

Starter money disappeared in Detroit, and what was left went up in flames in Arizona against Rams.

Here are five teams that can call Darnold as a stop gap 2025.

1. Tennessee Titans

No one expects the Titans will Torpedo AFC South after putting out the league’s worst record in 2024. And no one knows if Will Levis will have another chance to prove that he can handle the strings in the position at this level. Darnold looked capable of helping Tennessee with a 3-0 record against the division last season and a victory over Titans in Nashville. He would be in line with another coach from Sean McVay Coaching Tree – Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, O’Connell in Minnesota – with Brian Callahan, who helped develop Joe Burrow in Cincinnati.

2. Cleveland Browns

Kevin Stefanski took Browns to the playoffs with Joe Flacco Fresh from the sofa in 2023. With a reinforced offensive line, Darnold was able to stay well until Cleveland has a better alternative. But he is more of a controlled, predictive passer that benefited by indoor environments in Minnesota. He does not have the rocket that throws arm by Flacco or Jameis Winston or the mobility to do a lot outside the pocket.

3. Indianapolis Colts

This is not a perfect fit, given that Colts designed a crime for a 6-foot-4, 250 pounds quarterback, which is an extremely better runner than passers in Anthony Richardson. But GM Chris Ballard promised competition, and the 2025 draft must be about players, passing rush and offensive line help.

4. New York Giants

Brian Daboll can make it work with a Play-action passer. Darnold on a non -less contract would at least give the Giants options entering the draft.

5. New York Jets

The new coach Aaron Glenn authored week 18 game plan – then as the Lions defensive coordinator – which resulted in Darnold’s free agency. But Darnold almost got the best from him in a loss of 31-29 to Lions on October 20.