The Seattle Seahawks have identified Sam Darnold as their new quarterback, finalizing a three-year contract that totals $100.5 million. An individual familiar with the negotiations shared this information under anonymity, as teams aren’t allowed to sign free agents before Wednesday. In this deal, $55 million is secured, and Darnold is set to receive $37.5 million in 2025.
Darnold’s lone season in Minnesota proved pivotal as he amassed 4,319 passing yards, threw 35 touchdown passes, and achieved a 102.5 passer rating. His efforts led the Vikings to 14 victories during the season. Originally, Darnold was the third pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 draft, yet his time there, coupled with his tenure at Carolina, was marred by difficulties. His passer rating of 78.2 placed him third from the bottom among 53 quarterbacks with at least 500 attempts during that period.
However, the 27-year-old quarterback has experienced a remarkable turnaround in his career trajectory. Serving as a backup for the 2023 season in San Francisco, Darnold began to fulfill his potential, demonstrating consistent performance for most of the games. He achieved multiple touchdown passes and maintained a passer rating above 100 in 12 games, matching records set by MVP winners like Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
Darnold’s season didn’t conclude on a high note, though. His last two performances were underwhelming, including a Week 18 match against Detroit and a wild-card match against the Los Angeles Rams. In the game versus Detroit, he completed 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards, with zero touchdowns in a 31-9 loss. Against the Rams, he threw for 245 yards but had two turnovers in a 27-9 defeat.
These performances led the Vikings to allow Darnold to become a free agent, as they transition to their 10th overall draft pick, J.J. McCarthy. The Seahawks’ decision to bring in Darnold comes shortly after they made arrangements to trade Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, acquiring a third-round draft pick in return. The agreement followed an impasse in extending Smith’s contract as he entered his final contract year.
The Seahawks’ offensive lineup is in for a transformation, having planned the trade of star receiver D.K. Metcalf to Pittsburgh for a second-round pick and releasing receiver Tyler Lockett. These changes, while substantial, await official confirmation on Wednesday.
Seattle’s strategic overhaul comes after a 10-7 finish under new head coach Mike Macdonald, which saw them missing the postseason. Over the past eight years, the Seahawks have managed only one playoff victory, triumphing over Philadelphia in a wild-card game in 2019 under the leadership of former head coach Pete Carroll. With hopes to reclaim their previous glory as a Super Bowl contender, the Seahawks are placing their bets on Darnold to lead them back to athletic prominence.
