After trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders last week, the Seattle Seahawks have found their new quarterback on the first day of legal tampering. Seattle is signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Darnold receives a three-year, $100.5 million contract, which includes $55 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
After questions about what Darnold’s market would be in free agency, he signs a deal that includes an AAV of $33.5 million, which ranks No. 18 in the NFL. In Seattle, Darnold also reunites with Klint Kubiak, the new Seahawks offensive coordinator who worked with Darnold during his one season with the San Francisco 49ers.
Darnold is coming off a career year in which he went 14-3 as the starter while completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His 14 wins were the most by any quarterback in his first season with a team in NFL history.
While Darnold’s magical 2024 campaign ended on a low note with a critical loss to the rival Detroit Lions in Week 18 and a 27-9 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Wild Card Weekend, he did enough to earn a multiyear deal from a team that wanted to get younger at the quarterback position.
This is a developing story.
