Sam Darnold did not torpedo his possibilities at an enormous payday after two dangerous video games to complete the season … at the least that is what NFL super-agent Leigh Steinberg thinks — telling TMZ Sports activities he believes the Minnesota Vikings will follow him because the franchise quarterback.

Darnold — the No. 3 general choose in 2018 — had a profession resurgence within the 2024-25 marketing campaign … throwing for greater than 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns as he led the Vikes to a 14-3 file.

His scorching streak fizzled out down stretch, although … with the crew’s Tremendous Bowl desires coming to an finish after a poor outing in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams within the Wild Card spherical on Monday.

All that being stated, Steinberg believes the group will take a look at the massive image — not simply Darnold’s final two video games — and can finally resolve to maintain No. 14 beneath middle, regardless of having first-round choose J.J. McCarthy on the roster.

“I believe so on the finish of the day,” Steinberg says, “as a result of in case you take his complete physique of labor, it performed very effectively and he was each bit a franchise quarterback — he lit it up in the course of the season.”

Steinberg — the real-life inspiration for the film “Jerry Maguire” — added the Vikes cannot be too thrilled with how Darnold carried out in Week 18 in opposition to the Detroit Lions and in Monday’s 27-9 loss … however feels they perceive it would not mirror what he is able to doing on the gridiron.

If that is what Minnesota finally ends up doing, a pleasant elevate shall be on the horizon for Darnold … as he was on a one-year, $10 million deal earlier than his general stellar 2024 season.

Steinberg’s guess is fairly educated — in any case, he is repped huge names like Patrick Mahomes, Troy Aikman and Steve Younger … so he is aware of the ins and outs of the NFL.