Seahawks’ QB Strategy Stands Out In Modern NFL

Not exactly reaching showdown games through the period between Russell Wilson‘s injury-marred 2021 and Geno Smith‘s third and final starter season, the Seahawks enter Week 11 in an interesting position. They match up with a Rams team that has also retooled, as Sean McVay‘s team has restaffed its front seven post-Aaron Donald. But Los Angeles didn’t gamble at quarterback — despite pushing its situation to the brink via the Matthew Stafford trade sweepstakes.

The Seahawks, nonetheless, did make a bet at the sport’s premier position. Through nine games, Sam Darnold is rewarding his latest team. Although interest naturally emerged for PFR’s No. 1-ranked 2025 free agent, teams weren’t rolling out substantial multiyear guarantees at signing. A natural suitor for Darnold — the Raiders — backed off, as Tom Brady was not keen on his latest team signing his old AFC East rival. This opened a door wide for the Seahawks, who’re reaping rewards of what now looks like a team-friendly contract.

Seattle made a daring play at quarterback, trading Smith to Las Vegas three days before the legal tampering period began. A Darnold market that had seemingly cooled reignited, with a brand new QB-needy team entering the fray. Smith’s failed extension talks in Seattle, negotiations the incumbent had pushed for dating back to the 2024 offseason, now represent a seminal moment in Seattle. Darnold agreed to a deal within the ballpark of what the Seahawks offered Smith, and his three-year, $100.5MM accord — themed around Baker Mayfield‘s 2024 Buccaneers contract — looks like a steal on the season’s midpoint.

Although the Seahawks’ contract framework added intrigue to this accord, the timing of the QB dominoes falling proves a bit more interesting. In the trendy NFL, a tiny contingent of teams have been willing to let a first-ballot Pro Bowl quarterback go without having a contingency plan in place.