Sam Darnold did not torpedo his probabilities at a giant payday after two dangerous video games to complete the season … at the least that is what NFL super-agent Leigh Steinberg thinks — telling TMZ Sports activities he believes the Minnesota Vikings will keep on with him because the franchise quarterback.
Darnold — the No. 3 total choose in 2018 — had a profession resurgence within the 2024-25 marketing campaign … throwing for greater than 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns as he led the Vikes to a 14-3 document.
His sizzling streak fizzled out down stretch, although … with the staff’s Tremendous Bowl goals coming to an finish after a poor outing towards the Los Angeles Rams within the Wild Card spherical on Monday.
All that being mentioned, Steinberg believes the group will have a look at the large image — not simply Darnold’s final two video games — and can in the end resolve to maintain No. 14 underneath middle, regardless of having first-round choose J.J. McCarthy on the roster.
“I believe so on the finish of the day,” Steinberg says, “as a result of if you happen to take his complete physique of labor, it performed very nicely and he was each bit a franchise quarterback — he lit it up in the course of the season.”
Steinberg — the real-life inspiration for the film “Jerry Maguire” — added the Vikes cannot be too thrilled with how Darnold carried out in Week 18 towards the Detroit Lions and in Monday’s 27-9 loss … however feels they perceive it would not replicate what he is able to doing on the gridiron.
If that is what Minnesota finally ends up doing, a pleasant increase will probably be on the horizon for Darnold … as he was on a one-year, $10 million deal earlier than his total stellar 2024 season.
Steinberg’s guess is fairly educated — in any case, he is repped large names like Patrick Mahomes, Troy Aikman and Steve Younger … so he is aware of the ins and outs of the NFL.
Steinberg additionally talked to us about his basis, which was created to assist consciousness, prevention and treatment for concussions … and shared an extremely thrilling growth within the area.