The Seattle Seahawks have paid quite a pretty penny to sign quarterback Sam Darnold away from the Minnesota Vikings after a sparkling 2024 season. While this move gave Seattle a robust veteran starter after parting ways with Geno Smith, there are many who are predicting doom and gloom for the former No. 3 overall pick.
The selection of Jalen Milroe in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft and the fact that Seattle could hypothetically part ways with Darnold after just one season has many wondering if the Seahawks are operating on this being more of a short-term agreement than his three-year contract would suggest.
NFL.com's Nick Shook put Darnold on his list of players entering a "make-or-break" season, citing the notion that Seattle could part with him in the name of financial flexibility after one season. Wasn't his season as the starter in Minnesota the make-or-break year, and doesn't this contract imply that he made it?
While there is bust potential involved in this signing, Darnold might be on a longer leash than many seem to believe. In Klint Kubiak's offense, Darnold could put up a season that at least pays homage to his career-best 2024 campaign when he hit his peak with the Vikings.
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold named in NFL's "make-or-break" list
Darnold is projected by many to regress, as going 14-3 and throwing 35 touchdowns seems like an unrealistic goal for Seahawks fans to aspire too. However, even a slight decline in his performance will give Seattle above-average statistical quarterback play after Smith's up-and-down season in 2024.
For those who are all aboard the Milroe hype train, Mike Macdonald has tried his best to throw water on any thoughts of the Alabama product seeing the field soon. Per Macdonald, Darnold is the unquestioned starter and Drew Lock is taking most of the QB2 reps while Milroe comes in as the third-string quarterback.
As Minnesota showed last season, Darnold is at his best when he is in a very specific scheme that can get the most out of a very unique skill set. Klint Kubiak has it in him to put together a convincing replication of what Kevin O'Connell was doing with him last year.
Darnold may be a one-year rental at the end of it, and Milroe is an exciting player, but Seahawks fans should expect multiple years of solid play from No. 14 if he adapts well to Kubiak's scheme.