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The Seattle Seahawks made a couple of major quarterback moves during the 2025 offseason. They sent veteran starter Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders in a pre-free agency trade before inking Sam Darnold to a lucrative free-agent contract.
Darnold's deal was reported to be worth just over $100 million, representing a massive raise from the one-year, $10 million contract he played on with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
In reality, the structure of Darnold's contract could make his stay in Seattle a short one if he struggles to follow up his career-best season with another good one. Here's why.
NFL FREE AGENCY GRADES: Chris Godwin, Justin Reid among best early signings
Darnold agreed to a three-year contract with the Seahawks in free agency. Below are the reported terms of the deal, per Spotrac.com.
SAM DARNOLD SIGNING: Winners, losers, how Seahawks fared with free agency deal
While Darnold's deal is technically a three-year pact, the Seahawks have an out in the contract after one year. Provided that Darnold is healthy, the Seahawks release him at no cost if things don't go as planned during the 2025 season, per ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio
Below is a full structure of Darnold's deal, according to Florio.
As such, the 2025 season will effectively be a trial run for Darnold and the Seahawks. If he can perform as well as he did in 2024 when he posted a 14-3 record and completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, Seattle can keep him at a reasonable cost.
But if Darnold regresses outside of Kevin O'Connell's offense, the Seahawks will be able to move on from the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL draft without incurring much of a penalty.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks have out in Sam Darnold's contract after one year
Continue reading...
Darnold's deal was reported to be worth just over $100 million, representing a massive raise from the one-year, $10 million contract he played on with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
In reality, the structure of Darnold's contract could make his stay in Seattle a short one if he struggles to follow up his career-best season with another good one. Here's why.
NFL FREE AGENCY GRADES: Chris Godwin, Justin Reid among best early signings
Sam Darnold contract details
Darnold agreed to a three-year contract with the Seahawks in free agency. Below are the reported terms of the deal, per Spotrac.com.
- Term: 3 years
- Total value: $100.5 million
- Average annual value (AAV): $33.5 million
- Guaranteed money: $55 million
SAM DARNOLD SIGNING: Winners, losers, how Seahawks fared with free agency deal
While Darnold's deal is technically a three-year pact, the Seahawks have an out in the contract after one year. Provided that Darnold is healthy, the Seahawks release him at no cost if things don't go as planned during the 2025 season, per ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio
Below is a full structure of Darnold's deal, according to Florio.
- 2025: $37.5 million compensation, fully guaranteed;
- 2026: $27.5 million compensation, $17.5 million guaranteed for injury that becomes fully guaranteed the week after Super Bowl 60;
- 2027: $35.5 million compensation, no guarantees.
As such, the 2025 season will effectively be a trial run for Darnold and the Seahawks. If he can perform as well as he did in 2024 when he posted a 14-3 record and completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, Seattle can keep him at a reasonable cost.
But if Darnold regresses outside of Kevin O'Connell's offense, the Seahawks will be able to move on from the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL draft without incurring much of a penalty.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seahawks have out in Sam Darnold's contract after one year
Continue reading...
