A Deeper Look at Sam Darnold’s Resurgence

Prior to the 2018 draft, NFL analyst Lance Zierlein claimed that Sam Darnold had the floor of a “solid starter, but … the ceiling to be one of the top-tier quarterbacks in the game as he gains more experience.” He wasn’t alone in his praise. Experts had some concerns about Darnold’s throwing motion and tendency to turn the ball over, but he was generally seen as a quality prospect. In his first few seasons in the league, Darnold showed very little quality. Through his first four seasons, he failed to post a passer rating above 85. He threw just three more touchdowns than interceptions. Darnold was labeled a bust and shipped out of New York, doomed to a career as a backup.

In 2024, Darnold is finally showing the quality that drew scouts to him back in his days at USC. In his first season with the Vikings, he’s led the team to a shocking 10-2 start. Darnold is playing the best football of his career, and it’s not particularly close. Through 12 games, he has a passer rating of 102.5, which ranks seventh in the league. He’s already thrown more touchdowns in 2024 than he ever has in a single season. So, what factors are contributing to Sam Darnold’s resurgence?

The Kevin O’Connell Effect

“He’s been everything to me.” That’s what Sam Darnold told Bleacher Report regarding Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell has been known to bring the best out of his quarterbacks, from stars like Kirk Cousins to career backups like Josh Dobbs. Sam Darnold is his latest project. O’Connell has shown his impact both as a coach and an offensive mastermind. First, he’s instilled confidence in a quarterback that was once seen as a failure. There is a clear trust between O’Connell and Darnold that leads to an effective offensive unit. Then, O’Connell constructed the Vikings’ offense in a way that supports Darnold, giving him clear choices in every situation. The result has been a playoff-caliber offense from a group that was expected to struggle.

Sam Darnold’s resurgence under O’Connell serves as a reminder that even highly talented quarterbacks need the right situation to truly thrive. Darnold’s path, in many ways, mirrors that of current Buccaneers’ QB Baker Mayfield. Both quarterbacks were drafted early in the first round to franchises with a history of so-called “busts” at the position. Both proceeded to bounce around the league in search of another starting role. Now, both are thriving under play callers who understand their strengths and weaknesses. Stories like these ought to lead front office staff at franchises like the Jets and Browns to reevaluate the source of their quarterback woes.

Simplicity is Key in Darnold’s Resurgence

From an outside perspective, the success of an offense can seem to rest solely on the shoulders of the quarterback. Instead, the offensive scheme is often the most influential factor. In Minnesota, Kevin O’Connell has built his offense in a way that provides his quarterback with simple choices. The Vikings are using play action at a high level. These plays create more space for receivers and lessen the load on the quarterback by creating simple reads. O’Connell has also reduced pre-snap motion, worked to get play calls in quicker, and cut back on abnormal formations, all to make things easier on Darnold.

What’s Next for Darnold?

Sam Darnold is currently on a one-year contract with Minnesota. The Vikings spent a first-round draft pick on quarterback J.J. McCarthy back in April, so it’s unlikely that they would be willing to pay up to keep Darnold. After the production he’s shown this season, Darnold will be the most sought-after quarterback in this year’s class of free agents. He’ll likely earn around $20 million per year on his new deal, which would double his current earnings. Quarterback-needy teams like the Raiders and Giants could see Darnold as a healthy alternative to taking their chances with a weak QB draft class. In all likelihood, we’re watching the peak of Darnold’s career in 2024. Whether he finds the same success at his next stop or not, Sam Darnold has proved that he belongs in the NFL this season.

For more from Michael Haney, check out The Football Ranker