The Seattle Seahawks finished with a 10-7 record during the 2024 NFL season. Seattle just missed the playoffs in Mike MacDonald’s first season as head coach of this football team, and they decided to make massive changes.
One of the major moves that the Seahawks made was trading away quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. Seattle also signed quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year deal after playing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 record and also a playoff spot before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round. Will the Seahawks regret giving Darnold that long-term contract?
NFL Analyst Seemed Surprised What the Seattle Seahawks Did In Offseason By Signing Sam Darnold
Frank Schwab of Yahoo Sports is going through his power rankings before the 2025 NFL season. He has Seattle ranked 17th in the NFL before the season begins. The Seahawks are a team who just missed the playoffs, and they are looking to make it in 2025. Schwab said about the team going after Darnold in the offseason,
“The quarterback switch was interesting because the team talked up Smith in the offseason, then bailed when the price got too steep. Smith was traded for a third-round pick, then got a two-year, $75 million extension from the Raiders. Darnold, about seven years younger and coming off a huge season with the Vikings, was signed for $100.5 million over three years. The Seahawks gave up familiarity, but got younger and cheaper at the position while acquiring a top-100 draft pick. It could backfire if Darnold can’t replicate his fantastic season outside of a great environment with the Vikings.
The Seahawks have been in the middle of a gradual transition for a few seasons. Over the past few years Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll departed, along with any other remaining members of the team’s mini-dynasty of the 2010s like Bobby Wagner. Popular receiver Tyler Lockett was released this offseason. The defense underwent an identity change in Macdonald’s first season as coach. Then came the big trades that sent off Smith and Metcalf, which led to the Darnold addition.
Up to now, the Seahawks have remained competitive. It’s not easy to win 10 games. Seattle hopes that though some more changes, the ceiling gets a little higher.”
The wide receiver core for the Seahawks in 2025 will be Cooper Kupp, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Noah Fant will be the starting tight end, and Kenneth Walker III will be Seattle’s starting running back.
The offensive line will need to perform will for the Seahawks in 2025. Minnesota’s lack of protection in the wild card round against the Rams defensive front hurt big time. During the 2024 season with the Vikings, Darnold completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate that kind of year or not with Seattle.
Smith is already 34 years old, and this could be one of the reasons why they got rid of him and decided to go with Darnold instead. He is only 28 years old, and this will give the Seahawks a bigger window to be competitors in the NFC West division. The backup quarterbacks on the roster will be rookie Jalen Milroe and Drew Lock. Darnold needs to go out and ball for the Seahawks in 2025 and if he does that, Seattle will be back in the NFL playoffs for the NFC also.
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