The Seahawks took a calculated swing on Sam Darnold, and it’s safe to say they connected. When Seattle inked Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal, it raised eyebrows across the league.
A $33.5 million annual average for a quarterback many had written off? It looked like a gamble.
Now, it looks like a bargain.
Let’s rewind. Darnold hit free agency and, frankly, didn’t generate much buzz.
The Vikings didn’t bring him back. The Steelers went all-in on Aaron Rodgers.
The Raiders made a splash by trading for Geno Smith. The Jets shelled out big money for Justin Fields.
The Colts chose Daniel Jones to pair with Anthony Richardson. And Tom Brady?
Reportedly wanted no part of Darnold.
That left a narrow window, and Seattle stepped through it. After flipping Geno Smith for a third-round pick, the Seahawks turned to Darnold - and got aggressive.
The structure of the deal was savvy. In 2025, Darnold made $37.5 million, but with a cap hit of just $13.4 million.
That flexibility gave Seattle room to build around him. The cap numbers climb in the coming years - $37.9 million in 2026 and $41.9 million in 2027 - but even those figures are manageable in today’s quarterback market.
Here’s the thing: Darnold didn’t just meet expectations - he exceeded them. He played like a quarterback who belonged in the upper tier of the league.
The Seahawks didn’t just get competent play under center; they got leadership, poise, and production in key moments. And when you factor in the team’s success in 2025, it’s clear Darnold wasn’t just along for the ride - he was driving the bus.
The original deal was a classic “buy low” move. Now?
Seattle’s looking at a “pay up” situation. If the organization believes Darnold is the guy - not just for now, but for the next five years - they’ll need to get ahead of the market and lock him in before that cap number becomes a sticking point or another team comes calling down the road.
Bottom line: the Seahawks made a smart bet. Now it’s time to double down.