Quarterback Sam Darnold will likely be the next NFL quarterback to make a lot of money in free agency. The Minnesota Vikings have a tough decision to make in the months ahead after their lopsided NFL wild-card round exit on Monday night on whether to keep Darnold or let him go.

At the dawn of the new year, Sam Darnold was a folk hero in Minnesota. Not only did the quarterback -- no longer locally branded a reclamation project, but rather a full-blown, high-octane Pro Bowler -- sweep the rival Green Bay Packers to give the Vikings their best regular-season record in 16 years,

A dream season for the Minnesota Vikings ended brutally on Monday night, as Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Rams 27-9. Despite winning 14 games in the regular season, Sam Darnold and the Vikings will be watching the Divisional Round from the couch along with the rest of us.