SO SAD: Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced his departure today.

The Minnesota Vikings’ front staff found it extremely simple to decide whether to pick up Justin Jefferson’s rookie contract’s fifth-year option during the previous offseason. They made a decision today that was probably equally simple.

The team has declared that they have chosen to exercise left tackle Christian Darrisaw’s fifth-year option. Darrisaw will earn almost $16 million in 2025 if the team doesn’t extend him before then, but they’ll probably work something out with him before then.

and has formed one of the strongest tandems of bookend tackles in the National Football League with Brian O’Neill with the Vikings. Recovering from abdominal surgery kept him out of the first part of his rookie season, but he has started 39 of 41 games for the Vikings. In 2022, he also struggled with a few concussions that kept him out of a few games.

The Vikings had until Thursday to choose whether or not to accept Darrisaw’s option, but by acting now, they’ve taken care of business before the deadline. Once more, this is probably only a formality until the Vikings offer Darrisaw a longer deal later on, most likely following the conclusion of the 2024 campaign.