Seahawks Sign Sam Darnold $100M After Geno Smith Trade

The Seattle Seahawks made a significant move in the 2025 offseason by signing quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. Seahawks GM John Schneider expressed confidence in Darnold, noting that he met all the team's requirements and highlighting Darnold's prior experience and recent breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings, where he led the team to a 14-3 record. However, some NFL insiders and analysts remain skeptical about Darnold's ability to consistently perform at an elite level, labeling the Seahawks' decision as one of the riskiest moves of the offseason. The Seahawks also drafted Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the third round, indicating a potential future plan to develop a younger quarterback behind Darnold. Seahawks legend Matt Hasselbeck shared observations on both quarterbacks during recent team activities, noting the new offensive philosophy aimed at leveraging a run-heavy approach to alleviate pressure on Darnold. The Vikings' decision to move on from Darnold in favor of developing J.J. McCarthy reflects a broader league trend of teams investing in younger quarterbacks for long-term success.