Thanks to Sam Darnold, a QB no one else wanted, the Vikings are Super Bowl contenders

Sunday's NFC North matchup between the Minnesota Vikings (5-0) and Detroit Lions (4-1) won't just be a battle for division supremacy or a possible playoff preview.

It will also be a showdown between two former top draft picks, quarterbacks Jared Goff and Sam Darnold. Goff, who was selected first, and Darnold, who was selected third, were cut from their original teams (the Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets, respectively) before finding a home on their current rosters.

Goff, who signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension with the Lions in May after leading them to the NFC championship game last season, is firmly entrenched as Detroit's starter. Darnold, meanwhile, entered this season as a presumed placeholder for rookie JJ McCarthy, but was pushed into a more prominent role after McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury in preseason.

Still, Darnold's success this year has apparently paved the way for him to become a full-time starter whether he's with the Vikings or not. And he only has to look at Goff to see what's possible.

When Goff was traded to the Lions in March 2021, he was largely viewed as a stopgap who could make the team competitive during a rebuild or, in a worst-case scenario, a salary dump for the Rams.

Here's how Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated described the Goff trade in part:

“At least I think (Detroit coach Dan Campbell) has a capable bridge quarterback in Jared Goff who can make him the next quarterback.”

Here's how the trade was described by Kevin Clark of The Ringer:

“(The Rams) essentially had to pay a first-round pick and a third-round pick for (Matthew) Stafford and then another first to get out of Goff’s contract. This was a quarterback upgrade with a pay cut on the side.”

There were many reasons why this was the conventional wisdom at the time. Goff — who led the Rams to Super Bowl 53 in 2018 — had underperformed in consecutive seasons and had fallen out of favor with Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay. And teams don't trade their franchise quarterback for draft capital unless they're rebuilding.

The trade initially more or less met the mediocre expectations for Detroit. Goff wasn't particularly good in his first year with the Lions, going 3-10-1 and throwing only 19 touchdowns, his fewest since his rookie season.

However, he had some luck.

Detroit, which had the No. 7 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, chose not to select a quarterback after trading up three prior to that slot. (The two selected later in the first round – Justin Fields and Mac Jones – were more sensitive prospects who are already on their second teams.) The Lions also didn't select anyone in 2022, in a QB-poor draft that only one had scored (Kenny Pickett, also on his second team) in the first round.

With no competition at quarterback, Goff took advantage in 2022. He had his best season since 2018 (when he led Los Angeles to the Super Bowl), compiling a 9-8 record with 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions – which gave him confidence more than a bridge. Last year, Goff threw 30 touchdown passes for the first time in five seasons and led Detroit to its first NFC title game since 1991.

Darnold's path to Sunday was more circuitous and less successful. He certainly never made a Super Bowl with the Jets. He never threw more than 19 touchdowns in a season. And he played for two other teams — the Carolina Panthers and the San Francisco 49ers — before landing in Minnesota.

However, with the Vikings, Darnold posted the best passer and quarterback ratings of his career. And in every game but one, he was thrown for multiple touchdowns.

Yes, McCarthy — the No. 10 pick in April's draft — is lurking. But would Minnesota replace Darnold if he could lead the team to playoff success? Especially when McCarthy is an unknown as a professional?

There is certainly still a long way to go. Darnold hasn't had the highlights of Goff's past, and there's 10,000 lakes between a 5-0 start and a few playoff wins. But Sunday's game is a huge opportunity for him to prove that he can be the quarterback that delivers big wins for the Vikings. (Just forget the division, the Lions will enter this matchup as Super Bowl contenders.)

If Minnesota gets lucky, their quarterback will take the next step and prove he can be a long-term solution at the position. The Vikings only need to look across the battle line to see how far an outcast can take them.