Darnold’s Struggles Raise Concerns for Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot to think about as Sam Darnold steps in as their new quarterback. Darnold has struggled to make his mark in the NFL, never achieving a completion rate higher than 62% in any season. With a career average of just 59.7%, he ranks 47th out of 48 quarterbacks over the last decade.

In contrast, Kirk Cousins, the quarterback Darnold is replacing, boasts an impressive completion rate of 67.4%, good enough for fourth place in the same ranking. This change raises questions about how well Darnold can perform under pressure, especially since he’s only completed 46% of his passes when pressured over the last three years.

Darnold has faced an unsettling trend: he tends to welcome pressure rather than evade it. This can be seen when he operates out of 11 personnel, a formation favored by head coach Kevin O’Connell. Darnold’s pressure rate stands at 38% on early downs, which ranks him poorly among other qualifying quarterbacks.

Moreover, O’Connell’s strategy includes utilizing play action frequently. Here, Cousins thrived, while Darnold’s performance has been less than stellar; his numbers place him near the bottom tier of quarterbacks using play action.

As for his targeting, Darnold will have his work cut out for him when it comes to connecting with star receiver Justin Jefferson. Cousins was able to deliver effective passes over various routes, particularly go routes and crossing routes, but Darnold’s accuracy on these plays has been troublingly low.

Overall, unless Darnold significantly improves his passing accuracy and efficiency, the Vikings may find themselves relying heavily on their running game and defense in the upcoming season.