No, the Vikings have not decided to run it back with veteran quarterback Sam Darnold, nor have they decided to move on from him and  hand the keys over to rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. If anything was clear listening to head coach Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talk on Thursday afternoon at TCO Performance Center, it’s that the Vikings are still trying to determine the best path forward. “The way we put things together as we move into the future will be based upon what gives us the best chance to win,” O’Connell said. “I think it’s way too early in that process to really identify exactly what that looks like.” That’s probably not the answer most of the fan base is looking for after watching Darnold implode on national television earlier this week as the Vikings bowed out of the playoffs with a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. “The amount of times I’ve watched the tape of our last game already is probably not healthy,” O’Connell said. “We’ve got to acknowledge the big picture and my job as the head coach is to figure out every layer of the why behind how it ended.” As he reflected on this season in the aggregate, O’Connell referenced how Darnold, McCarthy, and veteran quarterback Daniel Jones were all on the roster at some point, as were backup quarterback Nick Mullens and reserve quarterback Brett Rypien. Not only did that allow O’Connell to evaluate multiple players at the same time, it also gave every player in that room a chance to learn from one another. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to assemble a lot of talented players in that room who fit our vision,” Adofo-Mensah said. “That was the mindset we came in with, and we got to see Sam play some incredible football for us.” Indeed. The production the Vikings got from Darnold was impressive despite the fact it ended with a whimper. He rewrote the narrative of his career by completing 66.2 percent of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. “I think Sam should be very proud about this season that he put together from start to finish,” O’Connell said. “He answered the bell day in and day out with his preparation and, really, I think he learned a lot about what he can be in this league.” Whether that journey continues with the Vikings remains to be seen. There are a number of ways the Vikings could go about it as they work to determine who will be the starting quarterback next season. They could decide to make a deal with Darnold, which would give McCarthy more time to develop after missing this season with a torn meniscus. They could decide to usher in a new era with McCarthy, then sign somebody like Jones to be his backup. They could do something completely different that nobody is thinking about at the moment. “I’m excited to have those conversations,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We have a lot of good options at the most important position in our sport.” Related Articles Minnesota Vikings | Kevin O’Connell wants to sign a contract extension with the Vikings. Will it happen? Minnesota Vikings | Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy? Justin Jefferson won’t involve himself in Vikings’ decision Minnesota Vikings | The Loop NFL Picks: Divisional playoffs Minnesota Vikings | Dane Mizutani: If this is it for Harrison Smith, his legacy with the Vikings is set Minnesota Vikings | Five takeaways from Vikings’ 27-9 loss to Rams