Just days after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Seattle Seahawks found their new quarterback: Sam Darnold.
According to reports, the former Minnesota Vikings standout has agreed to a three-year, $110.5 million deal with the Seahawks.
Darnold, who will be 28 at the start of the 2025 NFL season, is coming off a remarkable year with the Minnesota Vikings.
He posted a career-best 4,319 passing yards, completing 66.2% of his passes. Darnold also threw 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, ending the season with a passer rating of 102.5.
His stellar play helped lead the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record and earned him his first Pro Bowl selection.
Darnold’s 35 passing touchdowns tied for second in a single season in Vikings history, and his 4,319 passing yards ranked third all-time for the franchise.
However, his performance in a Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions, where he completed just 43.9% of his passes, and two turnovers in a playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams led to a debate about his worth in the open market.
The Vikings ultimately decided not to franchise Darnold, choosing instead to explore other options.
The Seahawks, following their trade of Geno Smith, swooped in to secure Darnold’s services. With the Vikings no longer expected to re-sign him, Darnold quickly found a new home in Seattle.
The Seahawks, coming off a 10-7 season but failing to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year, have undergone significant changes this offseason.
Along with trading Smith, Seattle also dealt wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers and released longtime veteran Tyler Lockett to clear cap space.
A shift in the coaching staff also occurred, with Klint Kubiak replacing Ryan Grubb as offensive coordinator. Kubiak and Darnold previously worked together with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, where Kubiak served as the passing game coordinator.
Darnold will join a quarterback room in Seattle that includes Sam Howell and Jaren Hall. While the Seahawks continue to reshape their roster, they are hopeful that Darnold can help lead them back to the playoffs.
As for the Vikings, their future plans now center on J.J. McCarthy, whom they selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Minnesota is also reportedly looking at veteran quarterbacks, including Daniel Jones and Aaron Rodgers, with Jones having joined the Vikings’ practice squad late in the 2024 season.
Darnold, who was drafted by the New York Jets as the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has had a winding journey through the NFL.
After spending his first three seasons with the Jets (2018-2020), he went on to play two seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2021-2022). He then spent the 2023 season with the San Francisco 49ers before signing a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings ahead of the 2024 season.
With this new chapter in Seattle, Darnold is eager to help the Seahawks return to playoff contention in the years ahead.
While it’s impossible to ignore just how disastrous Minnesota’s final two games of the season were, the fact of the matter is Darnold played at a near-MVP level for the vast majority of the year.
With Darnold now officially in Seattle, does this mean the Seahawks are now the team to beat in the NFC West???
