"Same Old Sam Darnold" NFL Scouts, Executives React to Seahawks' Big Splash

Sam Darnold Lands in Great Situation, Can He Change the Narrative?

The Seattle Seahawks found their quarterback, as Sam Darnold parlayed the first Pro Bowl season of his career into generational wealth.

Shortly after the NFL negotiating window opened Monday, the Seahawks agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth upwards of $100 million, with $55 million fully guaranteed, with Seattle’s successor to Geno Smith who was dealt away to the Las Vegas Raiders late Friday night.

After agreeing to terms with the Seahawks, Darnold now ties Baker Mayfield as the NFL’s 18th highest-paid quarterback, by average salary. Whether Seattle gets similar dividends from their new quarterback that Tampa has gotten from latter-day Mayfield remains an open question.

Darnold was far and away, and easily the premier quarterback available in free agency this offseason, despite his career being an enigma and his 2024 season being the ultimate riddle.

In his lone season in the quarterback-friendly confines of head coach Kevin O’Connell’s system, Darnold experienced a career renaissance as the driving force of Minnesota’s run to the NFL Playoffs, passing for a career-high 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 102.5 passer rating.

However, Darnold’s Cinderella season morphed into a pumpkin during disastrous losses in Week 18 and in the NFC Wild Card round, against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams, respectively, which saw the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft sacked 11 times, hit 22 more times, as a barrage of pressure led to Darnold tossing one interception as midnight struck on his 2024 campaign.

“Sam is a great guy,” a longtime member of the New York Jets front office tells me, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about another team. “He just always leaves you wanting more, and wanting fewer turnovers.”

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Seattle is betting big that an offense built upon the foundation of dominant running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet with play-action as the focal point will bring out the best in Darnold while insulating him from some of the effects of the pressure that wreaked havoc over the final two weeks of last season.

With DK Metcalf now in Pittsburgh following Sunday’s trade, the Seahawks are betting on Sam Darnold to lead an offense in transition. But how well does he fit Seattle’s scheme, and what’s his true upside in this system? To find out, I spoke with an NFL general manager and multiple scouts to break down Darnold’s potential in his new role.

Seahawks Hoping Sam Darnold Fuels Offensive Turnaround

There’s little getting around this, the Seahawks are in the midst of a full-fledged offensive rebuild.