Darnold ultimately could prove to be a one-year wonder, but the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft is enjoying the best season of his career — by far. Through 15 games, the seventh-year pro has thrown for 3,776 yards and 32 touchdowns (against 11 interceptions), boasting a sparkling 105.4 passer rating. As an efficient and effective playmaker, Darnold has 12 games with at least a 100.0 passer rating, one behind MVP candidate Lamar Jackson (who posted his 13th on Christmas Day) for the NFL lead, and 11 games with multiple passing touchdowns. While some of the veteran’s success can be attributed to Coach of the Year candidate Kevin O’Connell and his offensive wizardry, Darnold’s finally displaying the immense talent his many supporters touted when projecting him as a franchise quarterback during the 2018 offseason. 

Given Darnold’s spectacular 2024 campaign, the Vikings could slap the franchise tag — projected at just over $41 million for QBs in 2025, per Over The Cap — on the 27-year-old to keep him in the fold for another season. However, the presence of J.J. McCarthy as the franchise’s quarterback of the future and a lackluster quarterback market could make the veteran a hot commodity on the open market.