NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I didn't think you were, and I understand where you are looking at it from.

Basically, you want to protect against losing Sam and guarantee having him on the roster for next season.

Completely reasonable, and I'm not trying to convince anyone otherwise.

I'm just viewing it from the viewpoint of having a set dollar amount for what you want to spend on Sam, likely less than that transition tag would cost, and being comfortable with him on another roster in 2025. The transition tag would put him right between Carr and Mayfield on a per year, and that's solid for a one-year trade off, IMO.

Multiple seasons at that price? Well, that makes me a little uncomfortable.

The franchise tag gets him into Josh Allen/Matt Stafford territory. That's a rugged pill to swallow.

The Vikings are in the position of likely wanting to retain Sam but not for the kind of deal he will try to command, coupled with a high first round pick that they probably want to have as the starter in 2025. This may put the dollar amount they are willing to place on Darnold at somewhere near $30mil, which would be above Geno Smith money but under the transition tag. I can't see them wanting to pay Baker money when, best case scenario, he would be the backup for the majority of a multiyear deal.

If Darnold can somehow get himself a bidding war with the Giants and Raiders (I think the Titans may be taking one at the top), that would be the only way he finds himself with a better one-year dollar amount than the transition tag, IMO.

 

Enjoyed this dialog between Tim and Joe about Sam, I still dont know what in Sam hell they should do. Maybe just sign Daniel Jones... he'd be cheaper than Darnold and ready to go in case of JJ not being quite ready for prime time.

 

That's an interesting angle.

Without much thought into it - You might be able to sell me on this idea.

I'm wondering what the market for Daniel is going to look like.

Reclamation projects are something that coaches love, so he might end up with a little bit of heat from certain circles.

 

It may turn into a crap shoot. Darnold's tag might be around 40 or 42 million, a multi-year deal with an option after 1 or two years might be better, but if Jones is cheaper, they might have a Darnold part 2 sitting right under their nose.

Once again, im perplexed, lol.