This won't be an argument that Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is as good as Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes. That would be foolish. As much as some fanbases like to try to sway others into believing their quarterbacks are better than Mahomes, the KC QB simply has too many Super Bowl rings to dismiss.
That doesn't necessarily matter, though, when it comes to players getting paid lots of money. A lot of factors go into a team's financial approach to the position. Success, sure, but the age of the player and raw production do, too. That's why Darnold, with some elite greatness in 2026, could be set up for a payday something akin to what Mahomes makes.
The Chiefs and Mahomes recently worked out a new deal that will pay the quarterback an average of $63,093,000 a season. Over the life of all of his deals, previous and future, the QB will make as much as half a billion dollars. That's good money if you can find it.
Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold could accomplish something only Patrick Mahomes has done
It is the average yearly rate that we are concerned with here. Mahomes overall deal is untouchable, but his average annual salary isn't. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, for instance, makes $60 million a season through 2029. 12 QBs get paid an average annual salary of $51 million or more, according to Over the Cap.
Sam Darnold is a relatively cheap QB1 at $33 million per season. That will change drastically by 2028, though, assuming the quarterback continues to play as well, if not better, than he did last season when he led the Seattle Seahawks to the franchise's second Super Bowl title.
The pay rates of NFL players will continue to go up, meaning that Mahomes' average salary is going to be at the top only so long. Some team will probably pay their own QB more soon, and that could be Seattle.
Darnold just recently turned 29 years old and could potentially play at a high level for the next five to eight seasons. He's had back-to-back very good seasons, and he was named to the Pro Bowl in each. While he led the league in turnovers last season with 20, that statistic is misleading based on turnover-worthy plays. Overall, the quarterback was extremely efficient.
Moreover, he came through when he needed to at the most important parts of the season. Seattle doesn't reach the Super Bowl, for instance, except for Darnold completing 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game.
Also of important note, Sam Darnold didn't have a turnover in the playoffs. He had his best ball security when it mattered most.
The quarterback is under contract with the Seahawks through 2027. The team had no reason to try to work out a new deal with Darnold this past offseason because of his having two seasons left on his current contract.
Next offseason, however, extension talks should start, and Darnold's asking price, especially if Seattle repeats as champions, will likely be close to Patrick Mahomes' $64 million per season.
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