Full disclosure: Less than 24 hours before the Seattle Seahawks agreed with free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold on a $100.5 million deal, I published an article saying that under no circumstances should John Schneider sign Sam Darnold. Oh well. The deal is done. The die is cast. Or whatever other cliché you like regarding the irreversibility of fate. I am now a big Sam Darnold fan. I will be cheering for him to prove me completely wrong.
My primary concern wasn’t Darnold’s talent. He’s a big strong guy with a big strong arm, and he was extremely productive when pressed into service last year with the Vikings. My concern was that given the depleted state of the Seahawks’ offensive talent, Darnold’s strengths would not fit in with Seattle’s offense.
I will not call the former number-three overall pick a “game manager” because that term has become so devalued in recent years. Darnold can make every throw, and though he isn’t a dynamic runner, he is far from a statue in the pocket. He can make plays. The problem with him throughout his entire career is that when he has not been surrounded by top-tier talent, he simply has not made them on a consistent basis.
Seattle Seahawks should make these moves after signing quarterback Sam Darnold
Darnold is not as elusive as Jayden Daniels nor as powerful as Josh Allen. He has never possessed that almost mystical pocket presence that Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow display week in and week out. He is not a threat to score every time he breaks contain the way Lamar Jackson is, nor is he the dogged leader that Jalen Hurts has proven to be,
Those QBs elevate the players around them. Darnold, at least to this point, has not done that. As outstanding as Justin Jefferson was last season, it was no better than he had been when catching balls from Kirk Cousins. The same applies to Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
The Vikings had a pretty good offensive line last year prior to left tackle Christian Darrisaw’s injury in week 9. They had some issues in the interior, and it showed up in Darnold’s sack total. He was the fourth most sacked quarterback in the league, going down 48 times. That number in a vacuum is not a problem. Unfortunately, Sam Darnold will not be playing in a vacuum in 2025. He will play behind the Seahawks' offensive line.
One of the only QBs sacked more than Darnold last year was the Seahawks’ Geno Smith.
When he played on bad teams, Darnold was bad. Schneider has obviously decided that last year was not an aberration but a sign that the former USC star has finally figured out the NFL. That had better be true.
Last season, Darnold was playing for a brilliant offensive coach in Kevin O’Connell, with the best receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson and a dynamite runner in Aaron Jones. The strength of the Seahawks' offense is coach Klint Kubiak, receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and running back Kenneth Walker. As good as they are, the Vikings have them beat at each spot, with the possible exception of running back, which may be a push.
And the offensive line? Vikings fans were not especially happy with their performance, but it was still better than Seattle’s. With the possible departure of Laken Tomlinson through free agency, Seattle’s line looks very iffy right now.
Therefore, now that Darnold is the man, Schneider needs to begin surrounding him with enough talent to show off his skills in accordance with a $100 million contract. Here are five things the Hawks’ GM needs to do within the next two months.
Find immediate offensive line help through free agency
Schneider has missed out on several promising O-line targets, such as Patrick Mekari and Drew Dalman. Perhaps their price tags were too high. But he had better address the interior of the line quickly, or Sam Darnold is going to get sacked 60 times and throw 20 interceptions in his first season. There is not a single guard on the Seattle roster today who inspires confidence.
As of this writing, Pittsburgh’s James Daniels and Philadelphia’s Mekhi Becton are still looking for deals. Daniels is coming off an Achilles heel injury, but if he is deemed healthy enough to play early in 2025, he could be a steal. The mammoth Becton will get a huge raise after switching inside and helping the Eagles to a championship. One of these two players should be a Seahawk in 2025.
Find long-term offensive line help in the draft
As we all learned last year with Christian Haynes, a team can never rely on a rookie stepping into a starting spot on the offensive line. That’s why Schneider needs to look for help in free agency. But he cannot stop there. The Seahawks’ line is in serious need of long-term development.
Schneider has plenty of draft capital after trading Geno Smith and DK Metcalf. Five picks in the top 100. Two of those picks should be offensive linemen. If that doesn’t align with his draft board, then the GM should try and trade back to gather more picks. But no matter how he does it, he needs to come out of the draft with multiple prospects to develop over time.
Get an offensive weapon in the first round
Just because I want offensive help in round one, that does not mean the Seahawks should use their first-round pick on a guard. They should use it on a player who can have an immediate impact on Darnold’s effectiveness. That player is Michigan tight end Colston Loveland.
Not too long ago, an NFL team would have been leery about spending a first-round pick on a tight end. Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts was the latest example. It used to be hard for a rookie to make an immediate impact in a position that requires the skills and attitude of both wide receiver and lineman. That began changing a couple of years ago when, suddenly, rookie tight ends were dominating from day one. It continued last year when Brock Bowers smashed records left and right.
Loveland may not be Bowers, but he is very good, and he will give Darnold a target who is both reliable and explosive. Added benefit – with Colston, Kubiak could employ multiple two-tight end sets, which would allow A.J. Barner to function more as an in-line blocker. That helps the line while still allowing Barner to sneak out into patterns when mismatches occur.
Sign speed on the outside
Darnold can throw a good deep ball. Unfortunately, the Seahawks currently do not have any receiver who can get downfield, with the exception of JSN. And he has to run pretty much every pattern in the book because, as of right now, he is the only dangerous wideout on the roster. There will be speed available in the draft, but Schneider needs something a little more reliable.
As I was writing this, the Giants agreed to terms with Darius Slayton, one of the best deep threats available through free agency. Cross him off the list. Justin Watson just signed with Houston. Another burner is gone. Schneider needs to find someone who can stretch the defense, giving Darnold a deep target and opening up the middle for JSN and perhaps a couple of tight ends. If Seattle doesn’t add this element, opposing defenses will make Darnold and company miserable.
There are still some options out there. The most obvious one may be Van Jefferson, but he has been inconsistent throughout his career. There is another veteran who once had great speed and tracked deep throws with the best of them. He may have lost a half-step, but desperate times, well, you know the saying.
I think his name is Lockett. I can picture him in a Seahawks uniform.
Draft a quarterback, just not in rounds 1 or 2
Previously, I was hoping Seattle would choose Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart in round two of the draft. There’s no point in doing that now. I mean, Seattle isn’t Atlanta, right?
But the Hawks need a developmental QB to at least compete with Sam Howell. This year is not loaded with top-end talent, but there is a lot of potential in the middle rounds. So, Schneider needs to adjust back a bit. Get more immediate help for Darnold early, but identify a developmental player to grab in round 3-5. If it’s me, I’m taking a long look at Riley Leonard if he’s floating around on day three.