Sam Darnold is currently writing one of the greatest NFL stories in its storied history. It feels like his NFL career is just beginning again. For the Seattle Seahawks, Darnold's new version of himself is great news for the future of their franchise, as long as he continues his upward trajectory.Â
For other NFL teams, it may not be as great, not to mention that the Seahawks are sitting at the top of the league as a team on all fronts. Judging by last season, there aren't many teams with enough to knock them off the top, so the Seahawks could keep on rolling from here on out.Â
Seattle is the best situation Darnold has been in since his draft day. Lately, other good quarterbacks in the league are being put on watch. What about the elite quarterbacks, though? Is their status in the NFL under threat thanks to Darnold? Colin Cowherd says so. In fact, he's already viewed Darnold ahead of a few quarterbacks whom many consider elite, but is his perspective jumping the gun?
Colin Cowherd puts Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold above Joe Burrow and others in QB hierarchy
First, let's talk talent. Darnold isn't the most talented quarterback, especially when the same league he plays in boasts the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jordan Love, and Dak Prescott, to name a few.
This list isn't winning-related because only Mahomes is a Super Bowl winner among that group, and there are other quarterbacks not listed who would also be considered more talented than Darnold.Â
Talent under the microscope: best-case scenario, Darnold sits in the middle of the league, and that's okay. The Seahawks don't need him to be the most talented passer in the league. The point Cowherd is bringing up isn't necessarily about talent, but about which quarterbacks Darnold is better than overall.
Cowherd is known for some outlandish takes, and as nice as it is to see Darnold's name elevated as high as Cowherd is comfortable elevating him, he might be going overboard.Â
Burrow, Herbert, and Jalen Hurts are the three quarterbacks that Cowherd singles out by name as not being better than Darnold. His argument is a reaction to the latest Top 10 NFL QBs list published by the NFL, which has Burrow at No. 4 and Herbert at No. 7.
In Darnold's defense, Hurts wasn't ranked in the top 10 list either, but Cowherd still mentioned the Philadelphia Eagles QB as inferior to Darnold. It was Burrow's case that had Cowherd fired up the most, though.
"People love Joe Burrow, and they should. Joe Burrow's amazing," Cowherd said. "He's number four on the list. Darnold's not on it. People love Burrow, and the reason people love Burrow the most is because he had a two-year period where he won 22 games and got to a Super Bowl. Darnold's in a two-year period where he's won 28 games and won a Super Bowl, and he's not on the list."
Cowherd would continue to point out who has and hasn't won a playoff game, further making his case for Darnold. As far as success goes, Darnold has had more than Burrow in a shorter period of time. Cowherd is right in that sense. That said, that doesn't make Burrow an inferior quarterback. Skill against skill and talent against talent, the majority would say Burrow has a significant advantage.Â
Again, as far as simply being the better quarterback, Super Bowl wins off the table, Burrow is, without question, better than Darnold. Injuries aside, Burrow has carried the Bengals on his back since he entered the league. Darnold has not done that, and he didn't carry Seattle last season either.Â
Darnold isn't elite yet, although he can be after next season. Should he be a top-10 quarterback in most rankings today? Yes, possibly. However, Cowherd putting Darnold over Burrow is another thing altogether. As for Herbert and Hurts, however, now there's a legitimate argument to have.Â
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