The rumblings coming out of the Geno Smith trade look to indeed have produced a deal. Sam Darnold is expected to head to Seattle as the team’s first outside QB1 addition since Russell Wilson 13 years ago.
Darnold and the Seahawks are finalizing a deal worth nearly $100MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Darnold had been linked to a Baker Mayfield-level contract, and it appears the 2024 Vikings Pro Bowler will settle on that tier after a breakthrough season. A price discrepancy has emerged, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal is for $110.5MM in total and comes with $55MM guaranteed. If the latter numbers are correct, Darnold bettered Mayfield’s Buccaneers terms.
A weekend report pegged the Vikings as being out on Darnold, and Minnesota now must shift to another veteran option. The Vikings passed on a $40.2MM franchise tag for the resurgent passer but expressed interest in a re-signing at a lower rate. That always ran the risk of a separation, as the open market opened the door for more suitors to speak with the seven-year veteran. Darnold will replace Smith as Seattle’s starter.
The Seahawks proposed a similar deal to Smith, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Seeking a contract north of $40MM per year, Smith rejected the proposal. That led to the sides separating, and it will be the Raiders who will enter extension talks with the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.
Mayfield signed a three-year, $100MM deal to stay with the Bucs last March; $50MM came guaranteed. That contract came in well north of Smith’s 2023 Seahawks terms (3/75), and the Wilson successor angled for a better deal in 2024. The Seahawks passed at that point, as two seasons remained on their then-starter’s contract. While they were readier to extend Smith this year, a sizable gap in terms led to the impasse that produced the trade. Darnold, 27, does not have as much quality work on his resume compared to Mayfield or Smith, but he hit free agency after a $24MM cap spike.
Cast aside by the Jets and Panthers, Darnold has received training in the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay (via Kevin O’Connell) offenses. New Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak coming from the Shanahan tree should make this a fairly smooth transition, though Darnold’s skill-position corps may not rival what the Vikings just presented. After throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, Darnold is joining a team that just traded D.K. Metcalf and cut Tyler Lockett.
Although the Seahawks still have work to do at receiver, they do carry promising running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Noah Fant remains on the Seattle roster as well. Darnold will carry significant risk, as the Vikings presented a strong situation for a bounce-back season. The Jets traded him after three mediocre seasons, and injuries kept Darnold off the field for much of his Carolina tenure — one that featured Matt Rhule preferring Mayfield to him. Darnold did not threaten Brock Purdy for the 49ers’ job in 2023, though he did beat out Trey Lance for the QB2 position fairly easily.
Darnold threw 35 touchdown passes last season, eclipsing his previous career best by 16, and finished with 4,319 yards — roughly 1,200 more than his previous-best mark. This season included a Vikings road win over the Seahawks, as the team soared to 14-3 despite separating from Kirk Cousins.
Darnold, however, faceplanted in the Vikings’ two biggest games. Blowout losses commenced against the Lions in Week 18 — a do-or-die game for home-field advantage in the NFC — and against the Rams in Round 1. This undoubtedly proved costly for the passer, but it does not appear his market suffered immensely from the late-season undoing.
The Seahawks still figure to do work on the 2026 and ’27 QB draft classes, but this commitment covers them for a bit. Darnold will have a chance to prove last season’s breakout was legitimate, while the Seahawks can rest easier as today’s QB carousel heats up. Despite hopping on late, Seattle became a destination for PFR’s No. 1 overall free agent.
Love the signing especially at that price. Now they need to spend some of that cap money on the offensive line.
I think they’re gonna end up regretting this deal.
I don’t see how it’s extremely cheap for a starting QB in the NFL. Who would you have preferred they signed to play QB?
It’s not the money Is my concern I’m worried which Darnold getting.the one who did great first part of year with a team surrounded with talent or the one at end of season and playoffs when pressure hit. Hawks right now need more pieces. TE, OL, WR and RB,Some will come in draft.
But as Hawks fan..I hope it all works!
RB is the one position where we don’t have a need on any level. Seattle has never had a top pass catching TE. We need to sign a good Guard or 2 and we definitely need some WR help. Personally I’m hoping we sign Kupp.
You had Jimmy Graham and Jeramy Stevens.
RB is a need. Walker is showing injuries and if we keep the two we have we need a game plan with a good fullback.
Charbonnet is good though.
Both Walker and Charbonnet are good but Walker showing injuries and Char can’t do it alone. They need to add RB and FB
They are saving money over what Geno’s deal is going to be. Also, only $15 million more guaranteed than what Justin Fields signed for. If even Darnold doesn’t play well, the contract is not something that they’d regret as its not an expensive deal
Geno Smith isn’t getting that much more than this. Maybe $40 mil. They’re going to regret it.
Darnold’s contract is only for $55 guaranteed. Geno turned down $45 per year extension from Seattle already so this is already saving them money from keeping Geno. Raiders will give him much more than $55 guaranteed.
Geno is 35, Darnold is 27. They’re the same tier of QB. Rather have Darnold, and the contract has no chance of being a regret. The alternatives were Cousins and Rodgers.
Worth a shot in that range. They definitely need to fix that interior offensive line, though.
Also watching them follow Geno with Darnold is funny. Maybe in a few years they’ll bring in Zach Wilson.
So – this finalizes AR to Pittsburgh right?
Which might push Wilson to the Giants.
The Giants will trade up for a QB and let them sit for a few games behind Russ.
Giants can take Shedeur and sit him behind Wilson for a year
I know the stock on Sanders is falling, but come draft day, that’s still a very tempting pick at 3
That would be a horrible reach.
He should be a second rounder.
I think Wilson is staying in Pitt. That DK deal kind of sealed it.
yeah that would be awkward
They are close friends and have respect for each other…could happen.
Yes
AR > Pit official now
Looks like it with Fields signing with the Jets
AR is going to Minn. Daniel Jones to Pitt. RW to NYG.
Seems like it. Maybe giants get Russ next
Re:
My guess is
Fields > NYJ
Wilson > NYG
Rodgers > PIT
Darnold > SEA
Jones > MIN
Ward > CLE
Looking like Ward to Cleveland. I wouldn’t count out colts trying to get Russ or Daniel tho light a fire under Richardson
This one is on Darnold. His time with the Jets was their fault. This time he’s ‘choosing’ a team with no offense any longer.
They do realize that one of the two teams he didn’t beat last year was in their division where he got turned back into Jet Darnold, don’t they? Darnold behind that offensive line should be quality comedy material.
He won’t put up the numbers like he put up this past year with the queeens. He’ll be lucky to put up half of the 36 TD’s he threw
I’m thinking 20 and 10 is his ceiling, and they’d better hope that 10 is the number because Darnold has had the reputation of a turnover machine since his sophomore year in college until this past year.
Still improvement over Genos 21 and 15 last year.
Only one team in the NFCW has not signed a single Free Agent Offensive Lineman this offseason. The team with historically & certainly most recently the worst offensive line in the entire Conference. The Seattle Seahawks need to address this huge shortfall. Why they don’t has to concern Sam Darnold.
I’m sure they will be in draft.
Signed Josh Jones from Ravens. A very durable multiple position starter.
No receivers any more, no offensive line. How many day one and day two draft picks do the Seahawks have?
Why do the Seahawks think it’s a good idea to sign a quarterback who needs more high end talent around him to shine than any other potential top tier passer?
5 of the top 92 picks and 10 total picks in this draft. They have 1 1st, 2 2nds, and 2 3rds with cap room to sign FAs.
Seahawk insanity starts to make more sense. To rebuild a badly depleted offense: OL in the first, receiver and OL in the second, receiver and something else in the third.
Alec – I agree..unless Matthew Golden is available when they pick in the first round. Then I would grab him, draft OL with both 2nd rounders.
So, I don’t think Darnold is a good bet on paper and with that deal, it’s a big risk.
But, I have a based on nothing feeling that it’ll pan out.
I get he had a bunch of weapons last year but I saw him make a bunch of big time plays, too.