Sam Darnold ‘just excited to compete’ after potentially securing rights to be Kirk Cousins’ successor at Vikings

Sam Darnold expressed his excitement about working for the Vikings’ offensive playmakers.

Sam Darnold ‘just excited to compete’ after potentially securing rights to be Kirk Cousins’ successor at Vikings

Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold (Via Imago)

So far, there hasn’t been any progress on who General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell would sign as a quarterback for the upcoming season. But Sam Darnold’s odds seem fairly bright. 

After signing a one-year contract deal with the Minnesota Vikings, the quarterback expressed his excitement about working for the team’s offensive playmakers. In a recent press conference, Darnold stated that he’s up for the challenge to convince the Vikings that he is worthy to run the offense if they draft a quarterback to fill in the shoes of former starting QB Kirk Cousins, who recently signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

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Darnold said in his press conference, via Pioneer Press’ Dane Mizutani:

No matter what happens I’m going to compete. Just excited for the opportunity to do that.
Sam Darnold said

Even though Darnold’s previous experience of being the starter at the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, he is positive for securing the opportunity at the Vikings and becoming the successor of star quarterback Cousins. Although the chances of gaining the starting job at the Vikings are slim if they draft a prospective quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, it may also be the last time Darnold would get any such opportunity. 

Why did the Vikings sign Sam Darnold?

One of the prime reasons why the Vikings signed Darnold is because he has prior experience handling the offense as the starting quarterback. That would also be the reason if the franchise decides to take chances at him by making him the starter next season. 

Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold (Via Imago)

After Cousins’ departure, Darnold is the potential plan B for the Vikings if they fail to find a potential quarterback in the drafts. On the other hand, Darnold does have rather healthy stats in the league. 

In his 17-32 record in six years, he has a career rating of 78.2 and a 58.9 completion rating. In 2022 with the Panthers, he logged a passer rating of 92.6 along with seven touchdowns. Afterwards, he served as a backup quarterback to Brock Purdy in the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.

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