Sam Darnold’s future in Seattle may not be as settled as his play suggested last season, and the Pittsburgh Steelers could be the team that creates an escape hatch for the Seahawks.
For much of the year, Darnold was viewed as the weak point in Seattle’s lineup. Even when the Seahawks were winning, plenty of observers still wondered whether the former New York Jets draft pick was truly the quarterback to carry them forward.
That skepticism wasn’t completely off base, but it also missed how much Darnold had grown since those early days in Gotham. He was better than average for most of the season, and while turnovers popped up at times, he usually handled the job well enough to keep Seattle moving.
Even a Super Bowl title would not have been enough to shut down the conversation around him. And because the Seahawks generally avoid early extensions, Darnold may still have to prove himself again before getting a new deal. That leaves open the possibility that Seattle could eventually decide to go in a different direction.
The Steelers are the team to watch here. Darnold said on the “Bussin’ With the Boys' podcast” that Pittsburgh was among the teams interested in him during free agency, and the fit still makes sense now.
“I think we guess colors, and you just tell me yes or no. Yellow and black,” Taylor Lewan asked.
“Potentially,” Darnold responded.
A year can change plenty in the NFL, but Pittsburgh is still staring at the same quarterback problem it had when it reportedly tried to sign Darnold. Aaron Rodgers said this would be his final season, and the Steelers still don’t appear to have a clear successor waiting behind him.
Darnold also has another year left on his contract after 2026, which gives Seattle some flexibility if it decides he isn’t the long-term answer. In that case, the Seahawks could explore a trade with Pittsburgh, especially if they believe they can upgrade at the position.
For the Steelers, the appeal is obvious: a starting-caliber quarterback at a manageable price while they keep developing Drew Allar or another rookie from the draft. For Seattle, the benefit would be draft capital for a player they might not plan to keep anyway.
None of that means a deal is on the table right now. There’s no sign the Seahawks are trying to move off Darnold, and their decision not to extend him yet looks more like their standard operating procedure than a judgment on his ability, personality, or production. Seattle has consistently said the right things about him.
Still, Darnold has earned more respect than he’s getting. At the very least, he should have the benefit of the doubt in Seattle. But in a league where the next surprise is never far away, a team willing to pay real value for a quarterback who might not fit the long-term plan can change everything.
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