Report: Vikings Eyeing CB for Franchise Tag, Not Sam Darnold

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Report: Vikings Eyeing CB for Franchise Tag, Not Sam Darnold

Sam Darnold - Minnesota Vikings pending free agent quarterback — Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Eric Strack · Minnesota Sports Fan

Mon, Feb 17, 2025 ·

3 min read

What is the NFL Franchise Tag, Transition Tag?

What is a Franchise Tag in the NFL? When franchise tagged, a pending unrestricted free agent is (essentially) forced into a one-year contract with his incumbent team. His salary is non-negotiable on the franchise tag (average top 5 at position over last five seasons)

What is a Transition Tag? Unlike the franchise tag, a transition tag is only worth top 10 average positional salary and it doesn't guarantee a free agent returns to his incumbent team. Instead, it basically turns the "unrestricted" designation into a "restricted" one. A transition tagged player's origin team can match any offer sheet that may come his way next month.

If tagged, the Vikings could keep Sam around for one season, but it would cost about $40 million and make building the 2025 roster much more difficult. But really good QBs in their mid-20's are next to impossible to find, making both tags intriguing options, even if they're rarely used most of the time.

Using the tag on quarterback Sam Darnold would be an expensive way of ensuring his return while avoiding a longer-term commitment that would hinder J.J. McCarthy 's eventual ascension. It could also be a way to elicit additional value by way of a trade, but that would require a knowledge that multiple teams would be willing to bid.

So, placing either tag on Darnold would allow the Minnesota Vikings time to either (a)negotiate a short-term deal with Sam or (b)negotiate a trade that recoups them some draft capital, for such a high-demand offseason asset. What's the problem? There is concern that demand for Sam Darnold on the trade market won't be as high as the Vikings hope.

Minnesota Vikings looking to franchise tag Byron Murphy Jr., not Sam Darnold

That's why, according to Kevin Seifert (ESPN) , the Minnesota Vikings are not expected to use either the franchise tag or transition tag on the former No. 3 overall draft pick out of USC . The longtime NFL insider and current MN Vikings beat writer, reports that Kwesi & Co "seem more likely to let Darnold Sign elsewhere". If they choose to use their tag, Seifert writes , they're more likely to use it on pending free agent CB Byron Murphy Jr.

In the end, the Vikings seem more likely to let Darnold sign elsewhere and preserve their tag for a player such as cornerback Byron Murphy Jr ., who had a career-high six interceptions in 2024 and is hitting his prime at age 27. If nothing else, it would give the Vikings time to sign Murphy to a longer-term deal while keeping him off the market.

Using the franchise tag on Byron Murphy Jr would be a lot more palatable, from a 2025 financial standpoint. Murphy, who is projected by Spotrac to receive $22 million per season (4 years, $88M) in free agency, would get a projected $20 million this season if he plays on the franchise tag.

Byron Murphy Jr 2024 Stats & PFF Grades : 17 G | 81 TK | 6 INT | 14 PD | 72.8 PFF (72.6 COV)

The Minnesota Vikings have until March 4 to place either tag on Darnold (or any other player). For some context, it's worth noting that the Vikings have only used their franchise tag three times in franchise history (it was created in 1993).

Safety Anthony Harris was tagged in 2020, Chad Greenway in 2011 and Jim Kleinsasser in 2003. The Vikings have never used their transition tag. NFL free agency officially begins on March 12. The negotiating (AKA: legal tampering) period starts on March 10. Buckle up…