Sam Darnold plans to sign a three-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks that includes $55 million guaranteed and a total value of more than $110 million, according to multiple reports.
The Athletic and ESPN reported Monday afternoon that Darnold and Seattle completed the agreement, which can become official on Wednesday at the start of the 2025 league year. NFL Network reported the value of the deal was $100.5 million.
Darnold parlayed a career season with the Minnesota Vikings into the largest contract of his career. He signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings before the 2024 season as a candidate to replace Kirk Cousins and stepped into the QB1 role after rookie first-round pick JJ McCarthy had season-ending knee surgery in August.
Darnold threw for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024, but there was some debate over his actual value in free agency because of a poor showing in his final two games with Minnesota. He was sacked nine times in the Vikings’ playoff loss to the Rams and completed 43.9 percent of his passes in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions with a chance to secure the NFC North and home-field advantage in the postseason. Detroit won 31-9.
Seattle hired Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator after firing Alex Grubb. Kubiak worked closely with Darnold in 2023, when he was a backup to Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Seahawks were in need of a QB1 after agreeing to trade Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. Smith and the Seahawks lost to Darnold in a Week 16 shootout, 27-24, with Darnold tossing three TD passes.
Selected by the Jets with the No. 3 pick in the 2018 draft, Darnold was traded to the Panthers ahead of the 2021 season and played two seasons with Carolina before joining the 49ers.
Smith, drafted by the Jets in 2013, turns 35 years old in October. Darnold will be 28 in June.
