Kevin O’Connell won the NFL’s Coach Of the Year award on Thursday. The win was unsurprising, as O’Connell and the Vikings exceeded preseason expectations by going 14-3. The preseason projections were low because the Vikings had to replace Kirk Cousins and start either rookie J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold.

The Vikings' quarterback conundrum figures to be been one of the hottest topics of NFL conversation this winter in Minnesota and throughout the league. Kevin O'Connell discusses the matter on NFL Network on Friday.

If Minnesota makes the wrong choice on Darnold's future, it could haunt the franchise for a generation. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a few options. He can tag Darnold, let him walk, or re-sign him to a long-term contract in the Baker Mayfield vein.