The last few days have been a whirlwind for Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who is not expected to be the Vikings quarterback for much longer. The team declined to use the franchise tag on Darnold ahead of the NFL deadline--which was last Monday afternoon--almost guaranteeing that he would hit the free-agent market when the league year opens on Wednesday.
For a while, too, it looked like the Raiders might be the team with its sights set on Darnold. But then, Las Vegas and the Seahawks pulled off a stunning trade on Friday night, with star quarterback Geno Smith going to Las Vegas.
In the game of NFL musical chairs, it appeared that Darnold's options were narrowing. That's somehwat of a surprise for a quarterback who seemed to have done enough to secure a long-term place in Minnesota. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, plus a quarterback rating of 102.5.
But he flopped in his final two games with the Vikings in 2024, including the 27-9 drubbing at the hands of the Rams that ended Minnesota's playoff run.
Now, Darnold is looking at, most likely, replacing Smith in Seattle. That's the running rumor in the NFL. But a dark horse has emerged, according to NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Steelers are expected to make an offer to pending free agent Sam Darnold, per source.
Many around the league believe Darnold will wind up in Seattle, but Pittsburgh is doing its due diligence on any potential options ahead of the new league year.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 9, 2025
She wrote on Twitter/X: "The Steelers are expected to make an offer to pending free agent Sam Darnold, per source. Many around the league believe Darnold will wind up in Seattle, but Pittsburgh is doing its due diligence on any potential options ahead of the new league year."
That does not make it sound as though the Steelers are ready to knock Darnold's socks off financially. But Pittsburgh needs to figure out what it's going to do with last year's starters, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, and will seek out good value to replace one or both of them.
That--maybe, at least--could mean Darnold.
Related: Fans Urge Steelers to Pursue Arch Manning After Another Playoff Loss
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This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM.