Super Bowl 59 came and went with the Philadelphia Eagles laying a thorough beatdown on the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that the 2024 NFL season is officially over, it’s time for offseason speculation to ramp up.
Myles Garrett, Deebo Samuel Sr., and Micah Parsons all sent the football world into a frenzy by requesting trades, but ESPN insider Adam Schefter brought up another name that might be on the move on a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Adam Schefter Thinks Las Vegas Raiders Will Target Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold had a season for the ages in 2024. He unexpectedly led the Minnesota Vikings to 14 wins and a playoff berth while rejuvenating his career in a way no one thought was possible. The 2018 third-overall pick was left for dead by fans and pundits alike after failed stops as the starter with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.
A one-year stay with the San Francisco 49ers breathed new life into the quarterback. He greatly benefitted from playing under Kyle Shannahan, and he took the new experience to Minnesota where he was expected to compete for the QB1 role and potentially back up rookie J.J. McCarthy.
A preseason injury to McCarthy cleared the way for Darnold, but no one expected him to perform as well as he did. He started all 17 games throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Darnold finished No. 12 in PFSN’s QB+ metric, 10th in MVP voting, and third in Comeback Player of the Year voting.
His season was overshadowed by back-to-back poor performances in Week 18 and the Wild Card Round, but Darnold will be one of the bigger-name free agents this spring. PFSN has him as the No. 10 player and best quarterback available to sign elsewhere.
If the narrative that develops this offseason is that Darnold should not be a starter, it’s misleading. He entered the playoffs with four performances graded as D+ or below compared to six B- or above grades. The performances in those two big moments are a concern, but he proved he can produce in the NFL.
The options where he can walk in and start are limited, however. Darnold may find himself in another bridge-type role alongside a young QB — in Tennessee, Las Vegas, or New York with either the New York Giants or a reunion with the Jets.
Schefter agrees with Las Vegas as a possible destination. He recently appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and thinks the Raiders will go after the veteran quarterback.
"I think the Las Vegas Raiders are gonna make a play for Sam Darnold..
I think he's a candidate to be the Raiders Quarterback" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/w7YcRThujn
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 10, 2025
“I think the Las Vegas Raiders are gonna make a play for Sam Darnold. … I think he’s a candidate to be the Raiders’ quarterback. We’ll see if Minnesota lets him go or not, but let’s see if that works out with Sam Darnold winding up in Vegas.” Schefter’s response was quick and definite, so expect new head coach Pete Carroll to target the USC alum.
Tom Brady Will Be Involved in the Raiders’ QB Search
Carroll made it known that Raiders part owner, Tom Brady, will be involved in the team’s quarterback search. At his introductory press conference, Carroll said, “We happen to have the greatest of all time to help us, to seek clearly, and we are going to lean on Tom as much as we can for his insights because nobody has the insights that he has; he is that unique.”
The Raiders have the second-most cap space in the NFL, just over $92 million, and hold the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The team has the assets to get its franchise quarterback, but not consulting the GOAT when searching for the most important position in sports would be malpractice.