NFL analyst names Seattle Seahawks free agent acquisition one of the top-10 best moves during 2025 offseason so far
One of the Seattle Seahawks' biggest moves during the 2025 offseason has been the signing quarterback Sam Darnold. A former third overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold unexpectedly had a breakout season in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, setting career highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35). Still just […]
One of the Seattle Seahawks' biggest moves during the 2025 offseason has been the signing quarterback Sam Darnold.
A former third overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold unexpectedly had a breakout season in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings, setting career highs in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35).
Still just 27-years-old, Darnold can become Seattle's next franchise QB. NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha is in agreement, calling the Seahawks' decision to sign Darnold the sixth-best decision of the offseason among all moves made across the league.
"It was time for the Seahawks to shake things up with their offense," Chadiha wrote. "They were treading water with Geno Smith at quarterback, so the decision to trade him and sign Darnold — the best free-agent quarterback on the market — made sense in so many ways. First off, the 27-year-old Darnold is seven years younger than Smith. Darnold also enjoyed a breakout season in Minnesota after spending most of his career hearing how disappointing he'd been since entering the league as the third overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Seahawks clearly have a plan for Darnold, which starts with pairing him with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Those two worked together when Darnold was a backup with the 49ers in 2023 and Kubiak was the team's passing game coordinator. That history tells you Kubiak has the potential to get the best out of Darnold, just as Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell did last year. The supporting cast Darnold had in Minnesota was as critical to his success as his maturation, which is why general manager John Schneider needs to improve the skill positions — Seattle has already signed Cooper Kupp — and the offensive line. However, what makes this marriage even better is the contract. Darnold agreed to a reasonable three-year deal worth $100.5 million, and there are reports that it's structured in a way that allows the Seahawks to walk without major financial consequences after a year. That's insurance in case Darnold implodes like he did in his final two starts of last season. If things go according to plan in Seattle, the 'Hawks shouldn't need to use it."
Switching from Smith to Darnold made sense both on the field and financially for the Seahawks. They also did a nice job of shoring up the defense by signing pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, then finding Darnold some weapons in wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. It remains to be seen if the revamped offense will breathe new life into the organization, but it was a chance Seattle had to take.
