NFL Rumors: 49ers' Sam Darnold Deciding Between Vikings, Broncos Contract Offers

The Minnesota Vikings are reportedly expected to pursue a former first-round pick in free agency after losing quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Vikings have Sam Darnold on their radar, although he also has additional suitors.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported Darnold has a contract offer from both the Vikings and Denver Broncos and is deciding between the two.

Cousins' agent, Mike McCartney, announced Monday that the veteran signal-caller agreed to a four-year contract with the Falcons after the start of the legal tampering period for NFL free agency.

Denver, meanwhile, let Russell Wilson leave before the veteran joined the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With Cousins leaving for Atlanta and Baker Mayfield re-signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there is no clear-cut starter available in free agency at the quarterback position.

The 26-year-old Darnold is perhaps the highest-upside quarterback still on the market, although he has largely struggled when given starting opportunities during his NFL career.

Originally selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of USC by the New York Jets, Darnold lasted only three seasons in the Big Apple before getting traded to the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina let Darnold hit free agency after two seasons, and he spent the 2023 campaign as the backup to Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers, making one start and completing 60.9 percent of his passes for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 10 appearances.

For his career, Darnold has played in 66 regular-season games and made 55 starts, going 21-35, while completing 59.7 percent of his passing attempts for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns and 56 interceptions to go along with 760 yards and 13 scores on the ground.

Darnold would perhaps have a chance to succeed thanks to the presence of a respected offensive mind in head coach Kevin O'Connell, as well as some quality weapons in wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, and tight end T.J. Hockenson.

The Broncos also have an offensive-minded coach in Sean Payton, who is looking to prove Wilson was the problem in Denver last season.

Both teams could also address the quarterback position in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft even after signing Darnold.

Minnesota owns the No. 11 overall pick and Denver has the No. 12 pick, which makes it unlikely to land USC's Caleb Williams, LSU's Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye unless it trades up.

Michigan's J.J. McCarthy could possible fall, or they could go after another quarterback such as Washington's Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon's Bo Nix.