Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after beating the Seattle Seahawks.

The Minnesota Vikings’ decision on Sam Darnold has sparked debates about the best action for both sides. Darnold is due for a significant raise from his one-year, $10 million contract in free agency. That is if he reaches the open market.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that the Vikings want Darnold back.

“After conversations with a team source, one thing is clear: The Vikings want Darnold back in Minnesota for 2025,” Russini wrote on December 28.

Bleacher Report’s James Palmer projects a robust market for Darnold, but the insider also revealed at least some within the Vikings organization expect an attempt to retain him.

“I see Sam Darnold staying. That is an option right now. To my understanding, the conversations have not happened yet. Obviously, they’re focused on 2024. But there are plenty of people around the league, and there’s some people in that building, that believe they’re going to try to pursue Sam Darnold to stay. And how that happens – whether it’s a contract, whether it’s a franchise tag – we’ll see what ends up happening,” Palmer said during a live stream on December 26.

“Obviously, he’s playing extremely well in the situation that he is in. His relationship with KOC [Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell], with the way that he has two dominant weapons in Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and you see the game-winning drives. Think he has like four of them this year. He’s just playing outstanding football.”

Darnold has set career highs for passing attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. He is also on track to finish the season with the campaign with career-best completion percentage, passer rating, and Total QBR, per Pro Football Reference.

He is the third quarterback in NFL history to win at least 13 games in the first year with his new team and can set the benchmark with one more victory.

That he had not performed to this level until this season is a significant factor.