NFL teams have shown they’re willing to take calculated risks on veteran players when the situation is right.
Take the Minnesota Vikings, for instance—they made such a move by signing former first-round pick Sam Darnold to a one-year, \$10 million contract after he failed to meet expectations as the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft.
That gamble paid off, as Darnold delivered the best season of his career in 2024. However, despite his resurgence and landing a \$100 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, one NFL analyst still views 2025 as a pivotal, make-or-break season for the veteran quarterback.
Sam Darnold Named a Make-or-Break Player Entering 2025 NFL Season
Nick Shook of NFL.com identified quarterback Sam Darnold as a player facing a pivotal season in his first year with the Seattle Seahawks.
Shook noted, “Darnold became a major story last season by leading Minnesota to 14 wins, which helped him land a big contract with Seattle. The Seahawks moved on from Geno Smith, sending him to Las Vegas, in favor of a new offensive direction under coordinator Klint Kubiak that plays to Darnold’s strengths. It’s a bold decision that will draw significant scrutiny this fall.”
Darnold posted a career-best season with 4,319 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions — far surpassing his previous best in 2019 with the Jets (3,024 yards, 19 TDs, 13 INTs).
Seattle’s decision to part ways with Smith — who threw for 12,961 yards, 76 touchdowns, and only 36 interceptions across five seasons — was a gamble. However, it could pay off if Darnold proves his 2024 season wasn’t an outlier.
Shook also pointed to Darnold’s contract as a sign of the Seahawks’ strategic thinking. “The smart part lies in the structure of his deal,” he explained. “If Darnold underperforms in his debut season, Seattle can release him after June 1 and free up \$27.5 million of his \$33.9 million 2026 cap hit — giving the team a clear exit strategy.”
At just 28 years old, Darnold still offers long-term potential as a franchise quarterback, especially compared to the 35-year-old Smith.
What Other Options Do the Seahawks Have Under Center if Sam Darnold Underperforms?
Opting for a younger quarterback with more financial flexibility makes sense in theory, but what happens if Sam Darnold regresses to his pre-Kevin O’Connell days—when he posted a 63-to-56 touchdown-to-interception ratio and went 21-35 as a starter over his first six NFL seasons?
In that case, rookie Jalen Milroe could be next in line. The Alabama standout is a dynamic dual-threat quarterback with elite athleticism—boasting 4.3 speed and impressive arm strength. Although he enters the league as a raw, developmental talent, his physical traits make him a compelling backup option behind a starter whose career has been more up-and-down than consistently successful.
Darnold is firmly entrenched as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback heading into the 2025 season, but if the issues that plagued him early in his career resurface in Seattle, this year could ultimately determine whether he has a future as an NFL starter.
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