Schefter: Raiders 'Likely to Have Some Interest' in Sam Darnold Contract in NFL FA

The Las Vegas Raiders are "likely to have some interest" in free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter said the Minnesota Vikings haven't ruled out a reunion with the 2024 Pro Bowler, with the franchise tag being a straightforward path to have him under contract for 2025.

In January, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler cited one NFL personnel executive who predicted Las Vegas to sign Darnold due to a few factors.

The Raiders clearly need a quarterback after cycling through Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder as the starter this season. Going 4-13 only earned them the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, though, so they'll need to trade up in order to get Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.

The personnel exec suggested the Raiders "need every pick" because they're far more than one quarterback away from being a contender.

With a projected $92.5 million in available salary cap space, Las Vegas will have more than enough room to sign a top free agent at QB and strengthen in other areas.

Schefer and Fowler's reports underline how Darnold is likely to get paid one way or the other regardless of his disappointing finish to the 2024 campaign. He went 18-of-41 for 166 yards in a Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions and was then sacked nine times in Minnesota's NFC Wild Card Round defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.

Thanks to those two games alone, the idea of paying the 27-year-old nine figures looks a little less enticing.

But somebody is going to take the plunge, whether it's the Vikings giving him more than $40 million on the franchise tag or a suitor committing to a multiyear extension.

And if Darnold prefers a return to Minnesota, the Raiders' interest will be very useful in terms of building leverage at the negotiating table.