The Minnesota Vikings went from a Super Bowl contending, 14-game winner playing for the NFC North title with the conference's No. 1 seed and a wild-card bye on the line -- before Week 18's 31-9 defeat by the Detroit Lions -- to an early playoff exit because of a 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

After a career renaissance with the Vikings, Sam Darnold is set to hit free agency. Will he take the starting reins for the Steelers or Giants? Serve as competition for Anthony Richardson on the Colts?

Sam Darnold closed out 2024 as one of the feel-good NFL stories of the year. The 27-year-old journeyman had led Minnesota to a 14-2 record ahead of a Week 18 showdown against the Detroit Lions that would decide the No.