How Sam Darnold's career year affects J.J. McCarthy, Vikings

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EAGAN, Minn. -- The restoration of Sam Darnold's career truly began on the morning of April 25, 43 days after he signed a one-year free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

It was draft day, and Minnesota was preparing to take a franchise quarterback in the first round. But they viewed Darnold, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, as more than insurance for the rookie, and coach Kevin O'Connell wanted Darnold to hear that directly from the source.

So O'Connell summoned Darnold to his office for a 10:30 a.m. meeting and, for 45 minutes on a time-crunched day, he explained the plan. The Vikings' draft pick (who turned out to be Michigan's J.J. McCarthy at No. 10) would not be…