NFL Power Rankings Week 5: Sam Darnold’s stunning Vikings resurgence proves Jets are just grasping at straws

An unfortunate Josh Rosen insult aside, I’ve been thinking a lot about the 2018 first-round quarterbacks lately. Because if you think about it, everyone from this class who is still in the league is in a great situation now. Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP for the Baltimore Ravens. Josh Allen is a Terminator for the Buffalo Bills. And after languishing with the Cleveland Browns, a revitalized Baker Mayfield looks like a top-10 quarterback on a sound Tampa Bay Buccaneers team.

However, the person who has been most striking to me from this class is Sam Darnold.

Once a top-three selection for the New York Jets, Darnold could never quite gain any meaningful traction for one of the most dysfunctional franchises in professional sports. He proceeded to bounce around various teams as a high-end backup before getting the complete reins from the Minnesota Vikings this year after J.J. McCarthy’s season-ending meniscus injury. Now, in a fantastic Minnesota situation with smart offensive coaches, a deep supporting cast of top-flight weapons, and a stout offensive line, Darnold is living up to that draft status.

He’s an MVP candidate for a real Super Bowl contender! WHO saw that coming?

Well, that’s no coincidence. It makes me think the Jets really did have no idea what they were doing (they probably still don’t). It also lends a lot of credence to pro football’s version of the chicken before the egg theory. What I mean is, with quarterbacks like in Darnold’s case, it appears that situation matters a lot more than we like to believe for talented signal-callers who seemingly belong in the NFL.

Let’s keep that in mind the next time we cast off a supposed “bust” of a high first-round quarterback. Depending on where they land next, their story still might only be just beginning.

The Vikings are naturally ranked quite high in For The Win’s Week 5 NFL power rankings. By contrast, we’re starting to fade a shaky and probably broken Philadelphia Eagles squad.

Let’s dive in and see where everyone stands after a weird first month of the 2024 NFL season.