Sam Darnold Next Team Odds

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is set to hit free agency this NFL offseason, and there are a number of teams who could use his services following the 27-year-old’s resurgent 2024 season.

Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular season record in 2024, posting a career-best 4,319 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Minnesota fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card round 27-9, a game in which Darnold was not as his best, but the former No. 3 overall pick had already proved his merit as a starting QB.

Prior to 2024, Darnold played for three teams in six seasons. He was drafted with the third overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018, where he spent three seasons before moves to the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.

He was stripped of his starting spot midway through his second season with Carolina, and served as a backup to Brock Purdy in San Fran in 2023 before getting his opportunity in Minnesota.

Even then, Darnold was expected to back up rookie QB J.J. McCarthy, who the Vikings drafted with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 draft. But a knee injury suffered by McCarthy in preseason meant Darnold was thrust into the starting role.

Let’s take a look at the teams favored to land Darnold in free agency, which officially begins on March 12, 2025.

Sam Darnold Next Team Odds

The Las Vegas Raiders (+200) are the favorites to land Darnold, followed closely by the Pittsburgh Steelers (+250) and Minnesota Vikings (+325).

The Raiders are arguably the team most likely to spend on a free agent quarterback this offseason.

The franchise, now partially owned by Tom Brady, has had a revolving door at the QB position, most recently including Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder. So finding a stable option at QB is priority No. 1 this offseason.

Vegas also holds the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025, which could be too late to draft a top prospect with other QB-needy teams above them in the draft order.

Pittsburgh is also expected to move on from the Russell Wilson-Justin Fields QB tandem that led them to the playoffs in 2024, making the Steel City a desirable landing spot for Darnold. The Steelers seem to have a playoff-caliber roster every season no matter who is at QB, something that can’t be said for the other teams on this list.  

If Darnold were to stay in Minnesota, he would have to strike a new deal with the franchise he previously signed a one-year, $10 million contract with ahead of the 2024 season. Vikings brass will have to decide if they are to go with the ready-made Darnold or the rookie McCarthy for 2025.

Also on the list are Darnold's former team, the New York Jets (+600), who announced they are moving on from Aaron Rodgers at QB, and the New York Giants (+800), who are most definitely in the market for a new QB, but could utilize the No. 3 pick in the draft on one rather than a free agent. The Giants suffered a disaster 2024 season in which they benched and later cut starting QB Daniel Jones, who signed a $160 million deal with the franchise in Sept. 2023.

Next in the odds and newcomers in the market are the Cleveland Browns (+1000), Los Angeles Rams (+1200), and San Francisco 49ers (+1200).

Cleveland needs a new QB with Deshaun Watson set to miss 2025 after re-tearing his Achilles, LA is looking for a new starter under center after permitting Matthew Stafford to seek a trade, and the Niners could be in the market with incumbent QB Brock Purdy up for a potentially lucrative extension this season.

The Tennessee Titans (+1400), who possess the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, are the longest shot on the board to land Darnold.

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Odds available in select states. Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.

David Schneidman

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