John Middlekauff of 3 and Out raised concerns about McCarthy's ability to carry the Vikings' offense, pointing out that he played in a dominant system at Michigan that didn't requ

After exceeding expectations with a 14-3 record, contending for the NFC’s top seed, and securing a playoff berth, the Minnesota Vikings face a crucial offseason. One analyst suggested the Vikings plan to let Sam Darnold walk,

His preseason torn meniscus scuttled those plans and Darnold went on to have a great and surprising year. There are no guarantees that Darnold would be able to repeat his success in 2025, and if the Vikings were to bring him back, his $10 million salary would likely rise to the $35-40 million level.