All The Right People Like Sam Darnold
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
“All right people like Sam Darnold.” That is the refrain that popular Fox Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd has hit time and again since the Minnesota Vikings signed the veteran quarterback to a 1 year $10 million deal.
Simply explained, Cowherd is a huge believer in the young offensive innovator head coaches that come from the Shanahan tree. It’s those aggressive and successful coaches that all seem to have a positive view of the former 49ers back up. Kyle Shanahan obviously likes him. Sean Mcvay has spoken highly of him. Now Kevin O’Connell obviously likes him enough to sign him. If he’s good enough for those three high-level leaders, he’s good enough for Cowherd. And he should be good enough to have the Vikings fan base intrigued.
While much of the focus centers on the Vikings recent acquisition of the Houston Texans 23rd overall pick and how the purple might utilize it in trading up to get their future quarterback, inside the building it seems they understand that Darnold has a serious opportunity to succeed. General manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah refuses to call the veteran a bridge quarterback and insists he will have the opportunity to earn his keep with the Vikings.
Donald, perhaps on his last best chance, you would think would take that opportunity very seriously. This is his chance to prove that the dysfunction he’s been a part of with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers were more responsible for his floundering than he was personally. Given organizational stability and an excellent offensive head coach he will have the opportunity to prove that he can still make a name for himself in this league. It’s not an unheard of concept. Baker Mayfield was tossed out for dead when the Browns moved to Deshaun Watson. He suffered in that same organization in Carolina before getting a random shot in LA and leading a miraculous Thursday night come back. His performance in Tampa Bay this past year may not have been a Hall of Fame season, but it was good enough to get his team to the playoffs and prove he still belongs in the league. Most importantly it was requisite for a new contract, three years and $100 million. That sort of money in today’s market is very reasonable and you can build a strong roster around that if the quarterback can play up to his cap hit. Hell, that’s exactly what the Vikings have been trying to do with Kirk Cousins but in some people’s mind his performance just didn’t climb above what he cost the team.
Darnold has never seen anything like Justin Jefferson, let alone Addison, Hockenson, Aaron Jones, and a good offensive line. The pieces are in place. Even if the Vikings do draft a quarterback early in this year’s draft, most fans should hope that Sam Darnold plays well enough that he forces the team into a redshirt year for their future signal caller.
You might think he’s just a bridge, but bridges are important. All the right people know that. If Sam Darnold is a great bridge the future will be bright for both he and the team he’s helping cross the river. Darnold can be a difference maker, all he has to do is rise to the occasion and prove all the right people right.
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