The Seahawks have their quarterback of the present in the form of Sam Darnold along with a familiar face in the QB2 spot (Drew Lock). That did not stop the team from adding a signal-caller fairly early in last month’s draft, though. 
Seattle selected Jalen Milroe with the No. 92 pick, adding the Alabama product to the mix. Given the decision to trade away Sam Howell, Milroe is in line to operate as the team’s third-string quarterback with no thought being given to a position change or a hybrid role. Nether Darnold nor Lock were caught off guard by the selection.
“Yeah, [head] coach Mike Macdonald gave Sam a heads up,” general manager John Schneider said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (video link). “It was kind of in that period just coming down the pike, like, ‘Hey, this isn’t about you. This is about acquiring an impact player, in our opinion.
“So, Mike talked to Sam. I was able to communicate with Drew. And, obviously, we were communicating with Sam Howell all throughout the weekend as well.”
Shortly after Geno Smith was dealt to the Raiders, Darnold inked a three-year, $100.5MM pact in free agency. The one-year Vikings starter cashed in based on his strong play in 2024, but his Seattle deal leaves the door open to a parting of ways after the coming campaign. Specifically, a $15MM roster bonus is due five days after Super Bowl LX. A window of opportunity will exist for the team to cut bait – albeit by taking on $25.6MM in dead cap charges – if the 27-year-old’s debut season in the Emerald City does not go according to plan.
Lock returned to Seattle on a two-year pact, although his $2.25MM in guarantees only cover the coming season. Seattle could move on next spring with just a $500K dead money hit, something which could be informed in part by the team’s evaluation of Milroe. The latter drew praise in the pre-draft process based on his intriguing blend of size, athleticism and arm strength but questions linger about his upside as a passer at the NFL level.
While the Seahawks prepare for at least one year of Darnold atop the depth chart, the former No. 3 pick will enter the campaign without having been blindsided by the team’s draft approach at the position (as has been the case in other similar situations around the league, of course). It will be interesting to see how Seattle’s long-term plan under center takes shape.
AKA: your contract is pretty much year to year so he’ll sit back for a season or 2, don’t give us a reason to bench you. See Matt Flynn
Yup basically lmao
Isn’t that nice? Kind of funny they felt obligated to inform Sam that his replacement is coming though. I think Milroe will be really good, just not yet.
Darnold knows he’s on borrowed time. Got paid due to the lack of QB choices in the league.
This shows a coach who has respect for his players. Let’s look at the Kirk Cousins situation last year. He was conveying message it wasn’t about them..but opportunity to add a future impact player. I think it’s great they weren’t blindsided. Bum they are also professionals and know they need to perform.
With Lamar Jackson probably becoming the first NFL QB to reach 10,000 career rushing yards and Josh Allen possibly being the first QB with 100 career rushing TDs–if they both stay healthy–you heard it here first … Milroe will be the first hybrid RB-QB, who will run primarily out of shotgun with limited passing. He will be different than Jackson because he wont pass nearly as much.