The Minnesota Vikings could've had a much different quarterback situation this season.
All it takes is a look at the QB room from the end of last season, which included both Sam Darnold, the starter, and Daniel Jones, the midseason signing (along with the injured J.J. McCarthy).
Darnold and Jones have both gone on to successful seasons as starting quarterbacks elsewhere, in Seattle and Indianapolis, respectively.
And with the Seahawks hosting Minnesota on Sunday in Week 13, it's worth taking a look back at what happened with Darnold.
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Why did the Vikings let Sam Darnold leave for the Seahawks?
At the end of the day, the Vikings decided they were committing to J.J. McCarthy as their QB of the future, not Sam Darnold.
Darnold had put together a great season for Minnesota as a reclamation project. He revitalized his NFL career in a major way.
But at the end of the year, Darnold struggled in a key Week 18 loss and then as the Vikings were knocked out of the playoffs.
Was that small sample size the whole reason Darnold was let go? Probably not. But the situation surely would've looked different if he had performed better on a deeper playoff run.
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Minnesota drafted McCarthy No. 10 overall in 2024 out of Michigan. He had a chance to be the 2024 starter before a season-ending knee injury in August gave the job to Darnold by default.
Darnold ran with his opportunity, but the Vikings still wanted McCarthy to be the answer long-term.
They let Darnold sign a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks in free agency, and the Vikings opted not to pursue Aaron Rodgers, either. This would be McCarthy's team entering the season, for better or worse.
So far, it hasn't looked like the right call. McCarthy struggled, then got hurt, then came back and struggled again, and is now hurt again.
Minnesota also lost backup Carson Wentz to a season-ending injury, so it's undrafted rookie Max Brosmer getting the start against the Seahawks.
Meanwhile, Darnold has Seattle at 8-3 and chasing a strong spot in the playoffs.
Minnesota took a gamble on letting Darnold walk, and it's looking like it might go down as a loss.
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