Sam Darnold might just emerge as the biggest winner from the Seattle Seahawks' free agency moves, and here’s why. The Seahawks faced some tough losses with key players signing elsewhere, but when the dust settles, their offense might be in better shape than ever.
Losing Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs is a blow, no doubt, especially with him being a Super Bowl MVP. However, in today’s NFL, running backs are often more replaceable than other skill positions.
Seahawks GM John Schneider recognized this, prioritizing Rashid Shaheed over Walker. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba's promising future, this decision could pay dividends.
Keeping their wide receiver corps largely intact is a big win for Seattle. Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Shaheed form one of the NFL’s top receiving trios heading into next season.
Sure, there are standout duos like Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati or A.J. Brown and Davontae Smith in Philadelphia, but as a collective, Seattle’s group is formidable.
Smith-Njigba offers elite skills and a strong connection with his quarterback. Kupp brings invaluable experience and a winning pedigree.
Shaheed adds a dynamic element with his downfield threat and return skills. Each player brings something unique, making the unit more dangerous together.
Re-signing Shaheed and keeping this group intact makes Seattle a free agency winner, despite losing Walker and some defensive players. Alongside JSN, Kupp, and Shaheed, the Seahawks boast solid backups like Jake Bobo, who returned as a restricted free agent, and AJ Barner at tight end. Barner, in particular, has shown promise and looks ready to step up as Seattle’s No. 1 tight end.
With Shaheed back in the fold, the Seahawks’ wideout group is set, leaving Darnold with plenty of targets. This solidifies his position as potentially the biggest beneficiary of Seattle’s free agency strategy.