>> Unless he falters in the final three regular season games, it looks like the Vikings would use the one-year franchise tag on Sam Darnold, expected to be worth about $42 million. As a free agent, the 27-year-old QB, playing for $10 million this season, could expect a three-year deal in the $140 million range.

>> There remain a lot of moving parts regarding next year’s Vikings QB situation. Should the Vikings, who have just three picks (two are fifth-rounders) in next year’s draft, sign Darnold long-term, it’s not far-fetched that they consider trading this year’s first-round pick, still unproven and rehabbing (two knee procedures) J.J. McCarthy. That would be worth at least a first-round pick to the Vikings, whose 2025 first-round pick currently looks to be in the No. 28 range.

>> If Darnold were to leave via free agency, the Vikings could expect a compensatory draft pick in the third-round range, but not until 2026.

>> If the Vikings (12-2) don’t win the NFC North, they would be on the road for the playoffs potentially against Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Rams or even Detroit (12-2) if the Eagles defeat the Lions for the No. 1 seed.

Because the Vikings would lose a tiebreaker with Detroit, they basically would have to win one more game than the Lions, who should win Sunday against the Bears. Next for Detroit is the beat-up San Francisco 49ers, so the Lions have the advantage in strength of schedule before finishing in a mammoth game against the Vikings in Detroit.

The Vikings have to hope they have the same record as the Lions into that last game.

>> Pssst: Among potential new suitors for the Minnesota Twins is an older, Harvard-educated billionaire who made millions in the vegetable industry and has always wanted to own a major league baseball team. Meanwhile, one deep-pocketed local businessman is said to be losing interest.

The Pioneer Press reported last February that lately-rumored Twins suitor Mat Ishbia, the Michigan mortgage mogul who two years ago with brother Justin bought the Phoenix Suns and WNBA Mercury for $4 billion, inquired of Glen Taylor about buying the Timberwolves, and probably would have paid more than the $1.5 billion that Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore offered. But the timing wasn’t right for Taylor.

The Twins’ sale process, which could fetch $2 billion for the Pohlad family, is expected to take between nine and 12 months, most likely closing in summer of 2025.

>> Who can blame the Pohlads for wanting to sell the Twins: Juan Soto’s new free agent guaranteed $765 million deal with the New York Mets will average $315,000 per game for 15 seasons. And he’s a lousy defensive outfielder.

>> Two more names expected to receive consideration if the Gophers men’s basketball team makes a coaching change at season’s end: Ryan Saunders, the former Gopher from Wayzata who’s an assistant with the Denver Nuggets, and Sean Sweeney, the former University of St. Thomas and Cretin-Derham Hall star who’s the top assistant with the Dallas Mavericks.

Besides Colorado State head coach Niko Medved, the former Gophers team manager from Roseville, Utah head Craig Smith, who is from Stephen, Minn., is also expected to be considered.

And word in coaching circles is that Tom Crean, the fiery former Georgia, Indiana and Marquette coach, would love to have the Minnesota job.

>> Pssst: One Minnesota high school junior star already has committed to a $300,000 NIL deal upon graduation with a major college outside of Minnesota.

>> A year ago, the University of St. Thomas men’s basketball team lost Andrew Rhode to a $450,000 NIL deal to Virginia, and it will be surprising if athletic 6-5 freshman star Nolan Minessale a year from now doesn’t have NIL bidders.

>> Dan O’Brien, who coached Holy Family to the Minnesota state football tournament after the school finished 0-9 two seasons ago, would seem a natural fit if there’s a Cretin-Derham Hall vacancy.

>> With NHL players getting bigger, stronger and faster, the Wild traded for 6-4, 209-pound defenseman David Jiricek.

“David Jiricek is a big man — you notice him when he’s on the ice,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said. “I went to practice (soon after the trade with Columbus) and I didn’t know his number or what he looked like, but I looked down on the ice and the biggest guy, sure enough, was David Jiricek.

“Our scouts believe he is going to be a top defenseman in this league, and that’s going to put us in great position for the next five to 15 years of having four really good, young defensemen.”

The Wild gave up a lot for Jiricek.

“Yeah we did, but we think we got a lot,” Leipold said.

>> Now there’s buzz that RBC has joined Securian among financial firms under consideration to replace Xcel Energy Center as corporate naming sponsor for the St. Paul Arena. A deal could be worth at least $10 million a year over 25 years.

>> Not everyone feels badly about last week’s demotion in Atlanta of ex-Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. One longtime Vikings staffer considered him an egomaniac.

>> Nearly all Minnesota pro sports teams are actively involved in supporting legalized sports betting.

Overheard

>> NBC Sports NFL analyst Rodney Harrison, on the Seahawks’ secondary the Vikings will face Sunday in Seattle: “The most talented secondary in the NFL.”.