In 2024, the Minnesota Vikings shocked the NFL by riding quarterback Sam Darnold to unanticipated success in the regular season. Playing for a brilliant offensive-minded coach and alongside some elite skill position players, the journeyman Darnold led the Vikings to five straight wins to begin the season. In many ways, they were the 2025 Indianapolis Colts of 2024.
The Vikings dropped a couple of games coming out of their bye week. The trade deadline was approaching and they suffered a potentially devastating injury to left tackle Christian Darrisaw. Hence, Vikings' general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made a trade out of desperation.