Cooper Kupp and Sam Darnold could be the Seattle Seahawks' new Geno Smith (or Russell Wilson) and Tyler Lockett tandem. Kupp and Darnold were signed this offseason to help the offense be more efficient.
Seattle's new wide receiver thinks the team's new quarterback is going to get the offense ready faster than expected.
The key is that even though Darnold has only had one good season in his NFL career, that happened last year when he played for the Minnesota Vikings. The system that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell runs is a lot like what new Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak runs.
Cooper Kupp happy to work with new Seahawks teammate Sam Darnold
If some players succeed because of their fit in a certain scheme, Darnold working in Kubiak's system should mean success. Importantly, Darnold and Kubiak have worked together before when both were with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023. Darnold was a backup quarterback, and Kubiak was the passing game coordinator.
This means the quarterback will already be familiar with the new OC's play-calling verbiage and tendencies. While the Seahawks offense will have several new pieces, Darnold's experience working with Kubiak allows the QB to learn the playbook quicker while also advising other Seahawks on what Kubiak needs.
Kupp, according to John Boyle of the official Seahawks site, is excited to play with Darnold, and also is appreciative that the quarterback will help elevate everyone else with his knowledge of Kubiak's scheme.
Kupp said, "The insights that he (Darnold) shares and the confidence he has in being able to say, 'Hey, these are the things that have worked in this offense' in terms of how we've operated and how he's operated, and being able to collaborate together and figure out what that looks like for us as we put this team together—this skill group, this offensive line, this quarterback group, as we get together and figure out what we're going to be about, to be able to have that collaborative talking, it's been really good."
Many quarterbacks struggle with an ever-changing rotation of offensive coordinators. Darnold has certainly gone through that during his career. The positive part of his coming to Seattle is that Kubiak had already been hired, so both the quarterback and the OC know what to expect from the other.
Many players and coaches have raved about Darnold's demeanor in the Seattle locker room and how he handles himself. He is not as vocal as former quarterback Geno Smith was, and that is probably a good thing. Seattle has a young roster, and cool and calm might be the better way than Smith's fire and brimstone.
Seattle appears to have made an intentional effort to change the characteristics of its key players from bombastic to calmer. DK Metcalf and Smith were both outspoken, while Darnold and Kupp are less so. Ultimately, Darnold's calm in the locker room might help the young players feel like it's fine to make errors at times.
But his experience working with Kubiak is going to get the offense ready faster than had the Seahawks had brought in a different quarterback. If the team is more ready in Week 1, an unexpected early-season victory might make the difference between making the playoffs and not.