Darnold had an impressive 2024 season for the Minnesota Vikings, taking the beginning job after J.J. McCarthy was misplaced for the season. Darnold ended up throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns to guide the Vikings to a 14-3 report. It was by far the most effective season of his profession, and couldn’t have been extra completely timed given his pending free company.
He’s anticipated to be the highest quarterback choice out there, and at 27 years outdated remains to be at an age the place he might theoretically be a long-term resolution for a crew.
However he additionally comes with danger, principally as a result of he has by no means performed at that degree at any level in his profession.
He’s an particularly huge danger for a crew just like the Steelers.
Not solely will Darnold be effectively positioned to land a major contract in free company, he can be going from a super state of affairs for a quarterback to 1 in Pittsburgh that might be far tougher.
Minnesota not solely had a terrific offensive scheme underneath head coach Kevin O’Connell, the lineup was additionally loaded with playmakers round Darnold, together with a pair of No. 1 extensive receivers in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
The Steelers? They don’t have any of that.
Whereas they persistently win 9 or 10 video games and make the playoffs, they’re a defensive, grind-it-out offense that’s severely missing in playmakers. Their offensive philosophy is historic and out of doors of George Pickens, they don’t have a single influence participant anyplace on the offense. That would clearly change this offseason after the draft and free company, however that might require a whole lot of work.
That’s a whole lot of points and considerations for what it may cost a little to signal Darnold.
That is the kind of state of affairs the place either side would in all probability be higher off with out one another.
The very best, best choice for the Steelers stays a reunion with Fields. He ought to be cost-effective, he has familiarity with the crew, he nonetheless has upside, and he helped the Steelers to a 4-2 report early within the 2024 season. He additionally supplies the mobility that head coach Mike Tomlin has talked about wanting in his quarterback. It could additionally nonetheless give them the wage cap flexibility to beef up the roster round him.
Darnold on the anticipated wage he would get would seemingly restrict that.
