Kirk Cousins replacement for the Vikings is a $97.9 million

The Minnesota Vikings must find a new starting quarterback for the 2024 season if Kirk Cousins leaves in free agency — and one quarterback they could pursue is Sam Darnold.

On a March 7 appearance on SKOR North’s “Mackey and Judd” podcast, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson responded to a prediction from The Athletic that the Vikings could pursue Darnold if Cousins signs elsewhere.

“If the Vikings lose Cousins, their top target will be [Baker] Mayfield. But if Mayfield doesn’t hit free agency, Minnesota might try to take a flier on a young option with some upside. Darnold has never been in particularly winning situations as a starter but no one has ever questioned his arm talent. After a year in Kyle Shanahan’s system, he might be ready for another shot at starting,” The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt wrote

Darnold may never shed the bust tag as a former third-overall pick by the New York Jets who has played for three teams in the past four years, but he is still young at 26 and could turn his career around.

Fellow Jets selection Geno Smith shed his reputation as a bust in New York, putting forth a Pro Bowl-level season in 2022 with the Seattle Seahawks.

Darnold has the potential to do the same.

Touted for his arm strength and accuracy coming out of USC in 2018, Darnold flashed promise after being traded to the Carolina Panthers.

Darnold, who suffered a high-ankle sprain during the preseason and subsequently lost the starting job to Baker Mayfield, got his first start in Week 12. He led the Panthers to a 23-10 win over the Denver Broncos. Mayfield requested his release during the team’s bye week after a 1-5 record as a starter before Darnold took over.

Darnold went 4-2 to close the season. He threw seven touchdowns and one interception and added a pair of rushing touchdowns in a five-game span. Carolina went on to trade up in last year’s draft to select Bryce Young and parted ways with Mayfield and Darnold.

Like Mayfield, who landed with Shanahan disciple Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams before leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to an unexpected playoff berth, Darnold has gotten some exposure to some of the league’s most quarterback-friendly coaching under Kyle Shanahan the past year.