Sam Darnold’s offseason outlook will look very different after back-to-back brutal performances in high-pressure situations ended the Vikings’ season on a dud note, Troy Aikman opined Monday night.

Darnold completed 25 of 40 passes for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception and recorded a playoff-record nine sacks in the 27-9 wild-card loss to the Rams.

The former NFL star predicted the conversation surrounding Darnold would completely change after 16 games of redemption in Week 18 were tainted by abysmal performances against the Lions – with a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC – and the Rams became.

It comes as Darnold enters free agency after signing a one-year, $10 million deal with Minnesota in the offseason.

“This conversation is different today than it was two weeks ago,” Aikman said on ESPN’s broadcast of the playoff game Monday night.

“I know they really like JJ McCarthy. He will come back and he will be healthy. What that looks like for Sam…and he’s had a great year. I mean, there’s no denying that. He’s done a lot of good for this organization, obviously a big part of it, the quarterback is always the one if you want to win 14 games. He played at a really high level. It’s just that last week and this week going into this offseason are going to leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.”

There was discussion about whether Darnold would get a massive deal from the Vikings this season, with the possibility of trading McCarthy, who missed the season with a torn meniscus after being selected 10th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 27-year-old Darnold appeared to have finally found the formula that had eluded him after the Jets selected him No. 3 in 2018. He struggled for four years with the Jets and two seasons with the Panthers before getting a fresh start with the 49ers as Brock Purdy’s backup in 2023.

Darnold took advantage when McCarthy suffered the injury in the preseason and threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns as the Vikings went 14-3 in the regular season.

However, those last two performances — along with that worrisome track record — will be on the minds of the Viking and any other team thinking about signing Darnold as their franchise quarterback this offseason for potentially a nine-figure sum.

“These last two weeks will have a big impact on his future,” Aikman said. “Not only for the Minnesota Vikings, but it also has a big impact on what it might look like for (Darnold) to move to another team.

“Will there be the big payout that seemed inevitable a few weeks ago, perhaps not as big as Sam or others thought? These are the games that matter.”