It doesn’t appear Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold will come crashing down to Earth anytime soon.
On Minnesota’s opening drive in Sunday’s road game against the Green Bay Packers (2-1), Darnold threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to second-year wide receiver Jordan Addison, giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead with 11:53 left in the first quarter.
Expectations seemed low for Darnold after Minnesota signed the 2018 No. 3 overall pick to a one-year, $10M deal this offseason. However, he’s shattered them through his first three starts.
Entering the Vikings’ matchup with the Packers, Darnold led the NFL in passing touchdowns (eight) and has posted the fifth-best QBR (72.8). His superb play is one reason why Minnesota is 3-0.
Through his first six seasons with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, Darnold, 27, posted a 21-35 starting record in the regular season. The struggles may not have been all his fault.
“I just think, as a whole, there’s not enough emphasis put on the organization’s role in the development of the position,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said on “The Rich Eisen Show.” Thursday. “I believe organizations fail young QBs before young QBs fail organizations.”
O’Connell has a point. Landing in the right situation has likely helped Darnold salvage his career.