Seahawks’ Bold Quarterback Move: A Gamble on Sam Darnold
SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks have made a significant move that has the NFL world buzzing. During the recent scouting combine, Seahawks general manager John Schneider hinted at potential changes when he addressed the media about contract negotiations with Geno Smith’s agent. “We expect him to be our guy,” Schneider said, “but we want to do what’s right, too.” Little did we know, this was a prelude to a major shakeup in the Seahawks’ quarterback situation.
The Seahawks have orchestrated a blockbuster quarterback swap, starting with the trade of Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick. This move came amid a breakdown in extension talks with Smith. The deal was finalized when the Seahawks signed free agent Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are committing $55 million in guarantees to Darnold, signaling a significant bet on his potential to outperform Smith. It’s a calculated risk, but one that the Seahawks believe is worth taking.
Geno Smith, known for his talented and accurate arm, recently set a single-season franchise record with a 70.4% completion rate. Over the past two seasons, he has led nine winning drives and boasts a 27-22 record, including a 10-7 mark last year despite challenges like a struggling offensive line and a lackluster run game. However, Smith is 34 years old and has experienced inconsistency, ranking 21st in QBR over the past two seasons. He also threw 15 interceptions last season, including a league-high four in the red zone. While coach Mike Macdonald praised Smith’s toughness and work ethic, he also acknowledged room for improvement as a leader.
Enter Sam Darnold, who at 27, is seven years younger than Smith. Darnold is coming off a strong season with the Minnesota Vikings, where he led the team to a 14-3 record in his lone season as their starter. He ranked 14th in QBR (60.4), seven spots ahead of Smith (53.8), and earned a Pro Bowl nod. However, Darnold’s struggles in the Vikings’ final two games, including an 11-sack debacle in their wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, have raised questions about his ceiling. Without a track record of sustained success, there’s a risk he could be a one-year wonder now that he’s left the only NFL setting where he excelled.
Darnold’s journey in the NFL has been tumultuous. As the No. 3 pick in 2018, he was initially seen as a disappointment, bouncing from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers and then the San Francisco 49ers, where he played under new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, before landing in Minnesota. Darnold ranked 39th in QBR (42.1) over his first six seasons before thriving under Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who won’t be joining him in Seattle. Additionally, he won’t have the same elite receiving duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, as the Seahawks have traded DK Metcalf and released Tyler Lockett, leaving them with Jaxon Smith-Njigba as their only proven option.
- The Seahawks have released four other veterans as part of a significant roster purge.
- They return most of their key players from a top-10 defense.
- They have ample cap space and five draft picks among the top 100 to address needs.
Despite these changes, the Seahawks aren’t intentionally taking a step back in 2025 to take two steps forward in 2026. They’ve done this before under Schneider, turning what appeared to be a rebuild in 2018 into a playoff appearance. The same happened in 2022 after trading quarterback Russell Wilson and cutting linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Whether history repeats itself this season hinges on whether Schneider and Macdonald got their quarterback swap right. The Seahawks are betting on Darnold’s potential, but only time will tell if this gamble pays off.
Originally Written by: Brady Henderson
