Sam Darnold continues to get overlooked, to put it mildly. Heck, he just led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl LX victory and still managed to fall outside the NFL's top-10 quarterback rankings.
At this point, Darnold has nothing left to prove. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft has shown he can not only contribute to success at the highest level but also drive it. His outstanding efforts apparently haven't been convincing enough for everyone except the Seahawks, though.
Darnold still isn't getting the respect he deserves after an impressive title run. Fair or not, many are still scarred by his disastrous career start with the New York Jets, as evidenced by ESPN's Bill Barnwell.
Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold's late-career rise continues to be diminished by the Jets' nightmare
Barnwell compiled a list of stars he believes "would land a first-round pick (or more) via trade." Darnold was a notable omission, yet it has almost nothing to do with his current form. There was even a reference to the signal-caller's failed stint with the Jets.
"Darnold played well enough to lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl and was excellent for stretches in 2025, but would teams really be willing to give up a first-round pick for the well-traveled Jets draftee?" Barnwell wrote.
No matter what Darnold does, folks can't seem to unsee his New York days. Nearly a decade has gone by, and the infamous "seeing ghosts" narrative still haunts him. Much has changed, and the fact of the matter is that he's a completely different player now than back then.
In 2025, Darnold was as good as any QB in the league, and the numbers bear that out. Here are some notable statistical nuggets from his first season in Seattle, including the playoffs:
- Averaged more yards per attempt (8.3) than reigning MVP Matthew Stafford (7.9)
- Posted a higher big-time throw rate (5.7 percent) than the Buffalo Bills' Josh Allen (5.1 percent)
- Recorded a better passer rating (99.6) than Prescott (99.5)
Note: Metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus' premium stats ($).
Let's remove the stigma surrounding Darnold for just a second. He only turned 29 in June, has earned two consecutive Pro Bowl nods, and conquered his primetime demons. Those are the kind of credentials that can't be ignored and merit at least a Day 1 selection in any hypothetical swap, public perception aside.
With all due respect, why is the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott worth a first-rounder and additional assets? He's experienced similar shortcomings under the bright lights, is roughly four years older, and makes approximately twice as much money as Darnold.
Much of the same can be said about Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions. He's on the wrong side of 30 and is widely labeled as someone fortunate enough to be elevated by a loaded supporting cast. We haven't seen the veteran passer get over the proverbial hump, but Barnwell gave him a first-round valuation.
However, perhaps most notably, no one has won more than Darnold since his ascension in 2024. He's logged back-to-back 14-3 campaigns, once with the Minnesota Vikings and most recently as a member of the Seahawks. The combination of production and results from football's most important position makes him a premium asset.
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