National Football League free agency officially begins on Wednesday. However, announcements of players switching teams began on Monday. There was no surprise of the Seattle Seahawks naming a new quarterback when they decided to trade Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Seahawks have chosen Sam Darnold of Capistrano Beach, California, who they came to terms on a massive three year deal worth $100.5 million.
Darnold is joining his fifth National Football Team. He has previously quarterbacked the New York Jets (2018 to 2020), the Carolina Panthers (2021 to 2022), the San Francisco 49ers (2023), and the Minnesota Vikings (2024).
This past season, Darnold had his best season in the NFL, as he was selected to the Pro Bowl with the Minnesota Vikings. Darnold won 14 of 17 games, and completed 361 passes in 545 attempts, for 4319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also had 67 rushes for 212 rushing yards and another major score. The rushing touchdown was for one yard and came in a 23-13 Vikings win over the Tennessee Titans on November 17.
There is no doubt that Darnold had a great season for the Vikings in 2024. However, one must realize two things. First, the 14-3 record was skewed a little by the fact that the Vikings won eight games by six points or less. Second, Darnold was dreadful in two meaningful games at the end of the season–in a 31-9 Vikings loss to determine the first seed in the NFC playoffs, and in a 27-9 Vikings loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wildcard.
Minnesota made the quarterback change because they are set to give the number one job to J.J, McCarthy, their first round pick in 2024. McCarthy missed all of last season because he tore his meniscus in his knee against the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason a year ago.
