Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, who is coming off of a 347-yard, five-touchdown game, has been one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL season.

The 2018 third overall pick has gotten his first real chance to start for a contender, and he's finally playing up to his draft status.

It's not a stretch to suggest the USC product should be in the MVP conversation.

However, Darnold, who is on a one-year deal, finds himself in an interesting situation. The Vikings used the 10th overall pick in April's draft on Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and they reportedly haven't discussed keeping Darnold beyond 2024.

"Sam Darnold and the Vikings have not had any discussions regarding a long-term contract, per sources," ESPN's Adam Schefter posted on X on Sunday.

Darnold, who won't turn 28 until June, should be the top signal-caller available if he reaches 2025 free agency. When it comes to quarterback-needy teams, he might have his pick.

Let's examine the top potential landing spots for Darnold in 2025, based on factors such as team need, scheme fit and projected cap space.

Minnesota Vikings

Just because the Vikings haven't discussed an extension with Darnold, it doesn't mean he won't be back. However, Minnesota probably won't re-sign him on a multi-year deal at market value.

Realistically, the quarterback's contract floor should be similar to the $33.3 million-per-year deal Baker Mayfield signed this past offseason.

McCarthy is still viewed as the future in Minnesota, and under normal circumstances, bringing back Darnold at all might not make sense—teams don't typically choose to keep top-10 picks on the bench for multiple years.

However, the Vikings aren't facing normal circumstances. McCarthy will miss his entire rookie campaign after undergoing knee surgery before the start of season. The former Wolverine has already experienced one setback in his recovery, which required a second surgery in November.

Bringing back Darnold on a one-year deal—possibly with the franchise tag—could make sense. Minnesota was comfortable having him as a bridge during McCarthy's first season, and that first season has essentially been pushed back to 2025.

Beyond that, Darnold has performed well and meshed with head coach Kevin O'Connell. He's already thrown for 3,366 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He's also become the sort of leader O'Connell wants leading his team.

"He has just been so demanding of himself, but yet I also love the way he hasn't put the weight of the world on his shoulders," the Vikings head coach said on Monday. "I think I just can't say enough about how Sam's handled himself."

The Vikings recently added Daniel Jones, who could also be a bridge option; but like Darnold, he's set to be a free agent in the spring.

Minnesota has $78.6million in projected 2025 cap space and can afford to keep Darnold.

The Vikings are Super Bowl contenders, in part because of their quarterback, and while there will be a time and place to turn it over to McCarthy, another run with Darnold would be far from the worst idea.

Las Vegas Raiders

The list of quarterback-needy teams in 2025 might not be as extensive as it has been in previous years. That's because six teams took signal-callers in the first round this past April.

To find obvious fits, we need to examine teams that didn't just draft a quarterback—and the Pittsburgh Steelers might be in the QB market if they don't retain Russell Wilson, who is also scheduled to be a 2025 free agent.

Unlike Pittsburgh, the Las Vegas Raiders don't have a clear-cut starter worth retaining. Gardner Minshew II, who is on injured reserve with a broken collarbone, was middling at best. Aidan O'Connell has shown enough promise to be a long-term backup, but he's probably not the answer.

The Raiders have $112.1 million in projected 2025 cap space and could make a serious push for Darnold if they so choose. They could also provide him with a pair of quality pass-catchers in Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.

While Las Vegas' supporting cast isn't as impressive as what Darnold has in Minnesota—a group headlined by Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson—it has a solid foundation and the financial flexibility to improve quickly.

There are two caveats for the Raiders, though. There's no guarantee Antonio Pierce will be back after a disastrous 2024 campaign, and a new head coach may want "his guy" behind center.

They would also have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft if the season ended today. This means general manager Tom Telesco will need to weigh Darnold against prospects such as Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.

There are no sure things at quarterback in the 2025 draft class, but the allure of a rookie contract and untapped potential—not to mention the lingering sting of missing Minshew—could cause Las Vegas to pass on Darnold in free agency.

New York Giants

Like the Raiders, the New York Giants will be in the quarterback market next offseason. They've already parted ways with Daniel Jones, and neither Tommy DeVito nor Drew Lock is a long-term solution.

As of now, it appears head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen will both be back in 2025.

"Multiple sources reiterated this week to CBS Sports that Giants owner John Mara intends to keep Schoen beyond this year," CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones wrote on November 24. "...Daboll is also presumed to return for 2025 as [franchise owner John] Mara does not wish for more upheaval."

The Giants would have the second overall pick in next year's draft if the season ended today, and they could opt for a signal-caller. However, Darnold would be a near-ideal fit for Daboll's offense.

Daboll got his head coaching opportunity after working with Josh Allen as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator. Allen is a wholly unique quarterback, and it would be foolish to suggest Darnold is on his level.

However, Darnold's combination of size (6'3", 225 lbs), arm strength and pocket mobility would allow Daboll to utilize many of the concepts he used with Allen.

It's not hard to look at some of the big plays Darnold has delivered in Minnesota and imagine him doing the same with Malik Nabers in New York.

He struggled with pocket awareness, decision-making and ball placement early in his career, but he's improved in those areas significantly this season. Put simply, the version of Darnold we've seen in 2025 is the sort of quarterback the Giants always hoped Jones could become.

With $61.4 million in projected 2025 cap space, the Giants can and should make a run at Darnold.

Tennessee Titans

One could also look at the 2025 version of Darnold and view him as the end goal for Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis.

The 2023 second-round pick has a terrific blend of size (6'4", 229 lbs), mobility and arm strength, but he has a lot of ground to make up in the mental aspect of the game.

Levis' pocket awareness remains poor, and the Kentucky product has made some of the worst on-field decisions we've seen this season.

The 25-year-old has also made some jaw-dropping plays that few quarterbacks in the NFL can make. Like Darnold, and Josh Allen before him, he could eventually "figure it out" and become great.

Of course, the Titans may not have the patience for that. Rookie head coach Brian Callahan—who previously served as Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator—may have his job security tied to his quarterback. Unless Levis shows a tremendous amount of growth over the final month, he may push to go in a different direction.

Darnold might be exactly what Callahan wants in his quarterback. He isn't Joe Burrow, but he isn't far off from a physical standpoint. The Titans haven't had the personnel to really open up the coach's offense this season, but that would change if Tennessee brought in Darnold and, say, impending free agent Tee Higgins as a receiver.

With $71.6 million in projected cap space, that's both a dream scenario and a realistic one.

While an argument could be made that Levis' upside is still worth betting on, why wait on him to become a finished product if Darnold is available? Levis isn't there yet, and he's only two years younger than Darnold.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are a bit of a wild card. They don't currently need a quarterback, but that could change in the offseason, depending on what happens with Matthew Stafford.

Technically, the 36-year-old is under contract through 2026. However, the door is open for a new contract, retirement or his release next year. That's because he surrendered his 2025 guarantees when he restructured his deal this past offseason.

Essentially, Stafford's restructure was a new one-year, $40 million agreement. L.A. probably won't move on from him if he wants to return, but he'll turn 37 in February and could have other ideas.

If the two-time Pro Bowler departs—or if he declares 2025 will be his final season—the Rams could and should be interested in Darnold.

Los Angeles could provide an enticing situation for any quarterback. The offensive line could use some help, but Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp form one of the league's best receiver tandems. Sean McVay remains one of the NFL's top offensive play-callers and operates a very QB-friendly system.

For the Rams, Darnold would be a sensible heir to Stafford. He can make all the throws and has shown he can operate O'Connell's offense at a high level. The Vikings coach's system shares many similarities with McVay's.

Here's where we point out O'Connell spent three years as the Rams' offensive coordinator under McVay before taking over in Minnesota.

Los Angeles is projected to have $51.5 million in 2025 cap space, and it could have significantly more if Stafford wants to call it a career or play elsewhere. The Rams can save $27 million in 2025 cap space by releasing the veteran with a post-June 1 designation.

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are another wild card because it's hard to envision a scenario in which they could afford to sign Darnold in free agency. They are projected to be $77.6 million over the salary cap in 2025.

The Saints could save $30 million by releasing quarterback Derek Carr, though, and general manager Mickey Loomis has a knack for generating cap space. Even then, it would likely take a creative contract structure for New Orleans to afford Darnold.

It's impossible to completely rule out the Saints, though. Carr was added to be the final piece of their playoff puzzle, but that plan hasn't worked. The 33-year-old has been decidedly average when healthy, and he's now dealing with a "significant" fracture in his non-throwing hand, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.

Carr isn't the quarterback of the future, and the Saints have seen little to suggest Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler will be.

The Saints, having fired Dennis Allen in November, will also have a new head coach. If that coach comes from the McVay or Kyle Shanahan coaching trees, Darnold could be the ideal QB target because of his skill set and proven production in O'Connell's offense.

Darnold could also be the perfect fit if interim coach Darren Rizzi and the current staff remain in place. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak was the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator under Shanahan last season, when Darnold served as Brock Purdy's understudy.

Financially, pursuing Darnold would be difficult. Of course, it's worth noting New Orleans was also cap-strapped in 2022 and still tried to acquire Deshaun Watson.

Financials aside, Darnold and the Saints would be a very logical pairing.

New York Jets

The New York Jets are less of a wild card and more of an extreme long shot. Why? Because they are the team that drafted Darnold, only to trade him three years later.

New York has been one of the league's most dysfunctional organizations during Darnold's lifetime, and it's had little success with drafting, developing or supporting quarterbacks. Why would Darnold voluntarily return to that?

Money might be the biggest reason, and the Jets may have some to spare if, as expected, they part with Aaron Rodgers in the offseason.

New York is projected to have $32 million in cap space and could save another $9.5 million by releasing the 41-year-old with a post-June 1 designation. Also releasing Davante Adams would save another $30 million in cap space.

Darnold could, in theory, finally get his "franchise-QB" money, along with a shot at redemption in New York. Even then, though, his history with the franchise could make that a non-starter.

"The Jets are the objectively hilarious destination," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote on November 13.

From New York's perspective, though, bringing back Darnold could make sense. The front office that failed to develop him is long gone, and the Jets will be in the market for a new head coach and general manager in 2025—Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas have already been fired.

New York's next head coach could view Darnold as the right quarterback to finally maximize players like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. That could be particularly true if the Jets hire, say, Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips or Kubiak to be their next head coach.

Is a Jets return likely for Darnold? Probably not, but in today's NFL, it's impossible to rule anything out.

New York has tried just about every other avenue at the game's most important position. Perhaps the right blueprint for the Jets is to draft a quarterback, let someone else develop him and bring him back once he's ready to shine.

Darnold has shown he's ready for his time in the spotlight.

*Cap and contract information via Spotrac.