Not exactly reaching showdown games during the period between Russell Wilson's injury-marred 2021 and Geno Smith's third and final starter season, the Seahawks enter Week 11 in an interesting position. They match up with a Rams team that has also retooled, as Sean McVay's team has restaffed its front seven post-Aaron Donald. But Los Angeles did not gamble at quarterback -- despite pushing its situation to the brink via the Matthew Stafford trade sweepstakes.
The Seahawks, however, did make a bet at the game's premier position. Through nine games, Sam Darnold is rewarding his new team. Although interest naturally emerged for PFR's No. 1-ranked 2025 free agent, teams were not rolling out substantial multiyear guarantees at signing. A natural suitor for Darnold -- the Raiders -- backed off, as Tom Brady was not keen on his new team signing his old AFC East rival. This opened a door wide for the Seahawks, who are reaping benefits of what now looks like a team-friendly contract.
Seattle made a daring play at quarterback, trading Smith to Las Vegas three days before the legal tampering period began. A Darnold market that had seemingly cooled reignited, with a new QB-needy team entering the fray. Smith's failed extension talks in Seattle, negotiations the incumbent had pushed for dating back to the 2024 offseason, now represent a seminal moment in Seattle. Darnold agreed to a deal in the ballpark of what the Seahawks offered Smith, and his three-year, $100.5MM accord -- themed around Baker Mayfield's 2024 Buccaneers contract -- looks like a steal at the season's midpoint.
Although the Seahawks' contract framework added intrigue to this accord, the timing of the QB dominoes falling proves a bit more interesting. In the modern NFL, a tiny contingent of teams have been willing to let a first-ballot Pro Bowl quarterback go without having a contingency plan in place.
Darnold is a serious contender for MVP at this point. Let’s see if he doesn’t crack in big games.
Until it’s playoff time and the ghosts come out
The real strategy difference is that Seattle finally decided that having an OL that can protect a QB might be useful. They ranked 23rd or worse in sack percentage allowed 4 of the past 5 seasons. This season the OL is holding sacks to 4.13% (second best to Denver).
I couldn’t agree more. We’re seeing the same effect of a good OL on QB results in Indianapolis. Daniel Jones was seen as a joke in NYG but all of a sudden playing really well when he has time to throw. Obviously teams and GMs know this. I just wonder if it’s either A) Very hard to find 5 really good offensive lineman or B) really hard financially to pay 5 really good offensive lineman. There’s also the fact that paying for 5 OL doesnt put butts in seats the way 1 or 2 big name QB/WR/RB does