Sam Darnold Rumors: Titans Only Interested in QB at $30M AAV Contract in NFL FA

There is a reportedly a cap on what the Tennessee Titans are willing to pay to acquire Sam Darnold in free agency.

The Titans "will have some interest if Darnold hits free agency," but only if he is willing to sign a deal "in the $30 million per year range," per ESPN's Turron Davenport and Jeremy Fowler.

The Minnesota Vikings did not sign Darnold using the franchise tag before Tuesday's deadline, leaving open the possibility he could hit free agency on March 12. Spotrac projects his market value at $40.1 million per year.

At the time of their decision not to place a $40.242 million tag on Darnold, the Vikings were "still in talks with Darnold about a deal that would bring him back for the 2025 season," per Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Rich Eisen reported Monday there were rumors at last week's scouting combine that the Vikings are interested in bringing Darnold back on a multi-year deal amid concerns over J.J. McCarthy's return from knee surgery.

NBC Sports' Matthew Berry meanwhile wrote Tuesday he had heard at the combine the Titans "have some interest" in Darnold, but not enough to agree to a tag-and-trade with the Vikings.

A $30 million AAV contract would currently give Darnold the 19th highest annual quarterback salary in the NFL, per Over the Cap.

It is still a significant raise over the one-year, $10 million deal Darnold signed with the Vikings last offseason, at a time when he was considered a potential bridge quarterback for McCarthy.

McCarthy's season-ending preseason injury paved the way for Darnold to start, and he answered by leading the Vikings to 14 wins. Although the season ended with consecutive losses that dropped Minnesota out of the No. 1 seed and then out of the playoffs, the Titans could see Darnold as a significant upgrade under center, especially if the franchise decides to pass on a top quarterback prospect like Cam Ward by trading down out of the top 2025 draft pick.

Whether Darnold would want to play in Tennessee is another question. The Athletic's Alec Lewis recently reported that Darnold has a "preference" as to what his next team will look like:

"His experiences in New York and Carolina shaped his perspective on the role franchise infrastructure plays in quarterbacks succeeding or failing. In 2023, he signed with San Francisco to be in a more positive environment. Exposure to that level of coaching and skill talent guided his decision to play for Minnesota in 2024. Fourteen wins and a Pro Bowl selection validated that choice. Similar values matter to him this time around as well."

Head coach Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator Nick Holz and quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree are set to return to Tennessee in 2025. Their struggles to develop Will Levis last season could potentially influence Darnold's consideration of any potential offer by the franchise.

Darnold will be free to speak with other teams when the free agent negotiating window opens next Monday at noon ET. The 2025 league year and the opening of free agency starts the following Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.