Seahawks Sign Sam Darnold to Replace Geno Smith \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to a three-year, $100.5 million contract with quarterback Sam Darnold, making him the replacement for Geno Smith. The deal includes $55 million guaranteed, with Darnold set to earn $37.5 million in 2025. After a career-best season with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold now takes over in Seattle as the team undergoes major offensive changes, including trading D.K. Metcalf and cutting Tyler Lockett.
Seahawks’ Quarterback Shake-Up Quick Looks
- Seahawks Sign Sam Darnold: The three-year, $100.5M contract includes $55M guaranteed.
- Replacing Geno Smith: Smith was traded to the Raiders after failing to reach a contract extension.
- Darnold’s Career Revival: Had a breakout season with Minnesota, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 TDs.
- Struggled in Key Games: Poor performances in Week 18 and the playoffs led to Minnesota moving on.
- Seahawks Overhauling Offense: D.K. Metcalf traded, Tyler Lockett cut as Seattle reshapes its roster.
- Playoff Drought: Seattle has one playoff win in the past eight seasons, looking to rebuild into a contender.
Deep Look
The Seattle Seahawks have officially moved on from Geno Smith, securing their next starting quarterback with a three-year, $100.5 million contract for Sam Darnold. This move signals a significant shift for the franchise as it seeks to reestablish itself as a contender in the NFC.
Darnold’s deal includes $55 million guaranteed, and he will earn $37.5 million in 2025. The signing comes just days after Seattle traded Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round draft pick, opting for a fresh start at quarterback under head coach Mike Macdonald.
The decision to invest heavily in Darnold is a gamble—one that Seattle hopes will pay off after the quarterback’s career resurgence in Minnesota. But it also raises serious questions. Can Darnold maintain the level of play he showed last season? Or will he revert to the inconsistency that defined his early years with the Jets and Panthers?
Darnold’s Career Revival in Minnesota
For much of his career, Sam Darnold was written off as a bust. Selected third overall by the New York Jets in 2018, he struggled through three difficult seasons marred by poor coaching, injuries, and an unstable offensive line. His next stop with the Carolina Panthers (2021-2022) fared no better, as he was unable to solidify himself as a reliable starter.
By 2023, Darnold was reduced to a backup role in San Francisco, sitting behind Brock Purdy. But the season in Kyle Shanahan’s system helped him refine his game, and when he got his chance in Minnesota in 2024, he finally delivered on his potential.
With Kevin O’Connell’s offense tailored to his strengths, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and posted a 102.5 passer rating, leading the Vikings to a 14-win season. His decision-making improved, he played with confidence, and for much of the season, he looked like the quarterback scouts once envisioned coming out of USC.
However, doubts about Darnold’s ability to perform in the biggest moments lingered. His final two games with the Vikings—a Week 18 showdown with Detroit and a Wild Card loss to the Rams—proved costly. Against the Lions, Darnold struggled mightily, completing just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards in a 31-9 loss that cost Minnesota the No. 1 seed. The following week, he turned the ball over twice in a 27-9 playoff defeat.
Minnesota’s front office took those performances as a red flag, leading them to let Darnold walk in free agency and commit to developing J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in 2024.
Why Seattle Moved on from Geno Smith
Seattle’s decision to part ways with Geno Smith wasn’t entirely surprising, though it signaled the end of an era. Smith, who had spent two seasons as the Seahawks’ starter, played well enough to earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2022, but he was never viewed as a long-term solution.
Smith was entering the final year of his contract, and negotiations on an extension failed to materialize. With Seattle looking to reset its roster and open up cap space, trading Smith for a third-round draft pick became the logical move.
Smith now gets a fresh start in Las Vegas, where he will take over as the Raiders’ new starting quarterback.
For Seattle, Darnold represents a chance to build a new offensive identity—one with a younger, higher-upside quarterback who could, in theory, elevate the offense in ways Smith couldn’t.
Seattle’s Offense Undergoing Major Changes
The quarterback change is just one part of a major offensive shakeup in Seattle. The Seahawks have also decided to part ways with two of their top receivers, indicating that the team is in full rebuild mode.
The most shocking move came when Seattle agreed to trade star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second-round pick. Metcalf, one of the league’s most physically dominant receivers, had been a centerpiece of the offense since 2019. His departure marks a significant shift in Seattle’s approach.
Additionally, longtime receiver Tyler Lockett was released, another move that reflects the team’s desire to clear cap space and get younger.
These decisions suggest that Seattle is looking to rebuild through the draft and develop a new group of pass catchers around Darnold.
Can Darnold Lead Seattle Back to Contention?
For the past eight seasons, Seattle has struggled to return to Super Bowl contention. Since their dominant run with the Legion of Boom in the early 2010s, the Seahawks have won just one playoff game—a Wild Card victory over Philadelphia in 2019.
Now, with a new coaching staff, a new quarterback, and a revamped roster, the Seahawks are taking a calculated risk.
Darnold has shown he can thrive in the right system, but his inconsistencies in pressure situations remain a concern. If Seattle can build a strong offensive scheme around him—one that plays to his strengths—it’s possible he could continue the success he found in Minnesota.
However, if his struggles in high-stakes games persist, Seattle may find itself searching for another quarterback once again in the near future.
The 2025 season will be a defining one for both Darnold and the Seahawks, as the franchise looks to find its footing in a competitive NFC West. Whether this move elevates Seattle into playoff contention or becomes another misstep in the team’s search for a long-term quarterback remains to be seen.
For now, the Seahawks are betting big on Sam Darnold—and hoping that his Minnesota success wasn’t just a one-year anomaly.
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