NFL staff have arrived in Indianapolis for the 2025 Scouting Combine getting ready to interview and watch the workouts of prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft. The focus is not limited to the draft, as teams will meet with agents, start talking about contracts with impending free agents, and gauge trade markets in discussions with other teams. The 2025 NFL Draft is known not to be a strong class of quarterback prospects, and there are even quarterback-needy teams who are not in love with the top two prospects of Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Thus, young free-agent starters with upside could be entering a healthy market in free agency. In speaking with multiple sources in Indianapolis, they say that the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans are teams to watch for potentially signing Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold.
After being the third-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold was unable to become the franchise quarterback for the New York Jets and the Panthers after being traded to Carolina. Darnold served as a backup in San Francisco in 2023 and then was forced into the starting lineup for the Vikings after first-round pick J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season. Darnold helped guide Minnesota to 14 wins while completing 66 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. Darnold turns 28 in June, so he could be a long-term starter for the team that signs him.
Sources with Las Vegas say some of their staff really want the team to sign Darnold. They feel he is the best option, including the draft prospects. However, new head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek have not told staff the direction they are going at quarterback. Las Vegas has the sixth-overall pick, and those quarterbacks could be off the board before the Raiders are on the clock. In my latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, I have both of them going to other quarterback-needy teams picking ahead of Las Vegas. So if the Raiders want Ward or Sanders, they may have to trade up to the top of the first round to ensure they get one. Sources with other teams say they are hearing the Titans could also make a run at signing Darnold.
Tennessee has the first overall pick, and signing Darnold would potentially lead the Titans to trade down for a team that wants one of the quarterbacks. There are rumors with other teams that Titans could make a run at signing Darnold. Signing Darnold could lead the Titans to selecting Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter or Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter. After guiding the Vikings to a playoff spot and a 14-win season, there should be a number of teams hoping to land Darnold in free agency next month. Per sources, the Raiders and Titans are two of the top candidates to watch.
