Minnesota cannot afford a Sam Darnold Contract Extension

Minnesota has experienced this before. You can't get too happy about a situation too quickly. It might come back to haunt you. To Vikings fans, there is no escaping a bad dream.

Sam Darnold looks right, but Justin Jefferson is locked up. In panic, he sees a blazing Kobie Turner coming right for him. In duress, Darnold spins to his right trying to avoid pressure but is met by an airborne Jared Verse. Darnold goes down and what many Minnesota Vikings fans weren't expecting has happened once again. A promising season burning up in flames.

After being outscored 18 to 58 in their last two games, the Minnesota Vikings have some serious decisions to make this upcoming offseason regarding quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold's struggles were on full display in his last two games with the season on the line. Posting a season low in passing yards against the Detroit Lions in week 18 and taking a season high nine sacks against the Rams this week.

Earlier this offseason, Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in this year's draft. A pick that was deemed to be a "plug and place" for the Vikings after losing Kirk Cousins to the Falcons in the same offseason. With McCarthy being drafted, the Vikings needed a mentor for the former Michigan QB. Minnesota would then sign Darnold to a one-year $10 million contract and view him as a backup to McCarthy.

Only one game into his NFL career, an injury not only ended McCarthy's season, but seemed to have ended the Vikings' as well. Before his season ended, McCarthy would complete 11 of 17 passes for 188 passing yards and two touchdowns to one interception.

But what seemed to have been the Viking's worst nightmare turned into another canon event for Minnesota. Darnold finally lived up to his top three pick potential this year under new head coach Kevin O'Connell; posting career highs in passing yards, touchdowns, completion percentage, and wins. At one point, Darnold seemed to be the saving grace for Vikings kingdom. That grace went so far that Darnold was about to earn one of the richest contracts in the league this offseason.

The Vikings are in an interesting situation and will need to make a big splash in free agency. Minnesota currently holds just over $70 million in cap space to address the free agent market this offseason, one of those free agents being Darnold. But Darnold isn't the only big free agent name that Minnesota might bring back. Key starters like Aaron Jones, Stephon Gilmore, Camryn Bynum, Cam Robinson, and Byron Murphy are all up for free agency. Assuming McCarthy is healthy for his sophomore season, the Vikings have no need to re-sign Darnold after his last two poor performances. Minnesota frankly can't afford to pay Darnold even over $30 million a year to come back when McCarthy is in their back pocket. The market for Darnold will already be high after his career season. If the Vikings want to afford their future, paying a QB a big time deal is something you can't do.