The Patriots will face off against the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. One reason Seattle made it to the big game is its quarterback, Sam Darnold.
Seattle signed Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract in the offseason after he spent a season with the Vikings. Darnold performed well in Minnesota, but the Vikings ultimately chose not to bring him back, prompting former New England quarterback Brian Hoyer to criticize Minnesota for its decision.
“If I’m Minnesota right now, how are you feeling about letting this guy just walk out the door?” Hoyer said Wednesday on “Up & Adams”.
It’s easy to criticize the Vikings for allowing Darnold to walk, but they did draft J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The only reason Darnold got a chance to play in 2024 was that McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason.
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Minnesota was determined not to part ways with McCarthy after drafting him without having seen him play. The Vikings could have opted to let Darnold play under the franchise tag this season, but that would have postponed McCarthy’s opportunity to hit the field, and that’s something Minnesota was eager to avoid.
Featured image via Neville E. Guard/Imagn Images
