The Seattle Seahawks spent big on free agent quarterback Sam Darnold and traded away quarterback Geno Smith this offseason.
In turn, the Seahawks let go of a quarterback who turned around his career for three seasons, Smith, in exchange for one who only did it for a season, Darnold. NFL analyst Nick Wright of the “First Things First” podcast sees issues with the Seahawks’ decisions.
“Yeah, I don’t get this,” Wright said on the June 17 show during the one hour, 19-minute mark. “I don’t understand moving on from Geno (Smith) for a worse quarterback that’s just as expensive. I don’t get it.”
That said, the Seahawks offered Smith a contract before he requested a trade. The Las Vegas Raiders acquired Smith in a trade and ponied up a deal of two years, $75 million in the process. Meanwhile, the Seahawks spent more on Darnold with a three-year $150 million deal.
Sam Darnold Hasn’t Enjoyed Geno Smith’s Continuity
GettySam Darnold has been a journeyman since 2022 amid his fourth team in four years.
Smith is enjoying much more continuity than Darnold at this time.
Las Vegas was willing to pay for Smith in part because former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll came out of retirement to coach. The two worked together for two seasons in Seattle with Smith as the starter.
Darnold, however, enjoyed only one turnaround season under Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell after a year as a backup under San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s tutelage. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald will need to help ensure that Darnold’s growth under Shanahan and O’Connell continues.
In addition, the Vikings brought in Darnold as a potential backup in 2024 since the team drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 pick. McCarthy then couldn’t play that season due to a meniscus tear and surgery recovery, so Darnold got his shot to make the most of his time in Minneapolis.
Darnold completed 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions. He led the Vikings to a 14-3 record with a shot to clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the final game of the regular season.
Instead of more success, Darnold flatlined in a Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions, and he fared no better in a Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams — a team he will now face twice a season.
Smith had winning regular seasons all three years in Seattle, but only one of those seasons produced a playoff berth. However, he performed well in his lone career playoff game amid 253 yards passing for two touchdowns versus a pick.
Sam Darnold Will See a Drastic Change in Wideouts
Overall in 2024, Darnold benefitted from one of the top wide receiver duos in the league with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Both wideouts and fellow receiver Jalen Nailor all averaged 13.9 yards per catch or better that season.
Darnold will now have to find similar success with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While Valdes-Scantling was a big-play wideout amid 21.6 yards per catch last year, he only had 19 receptions amid 44 targets. Smith-Njigba and Kupp averaged no more than 11 yards per catch apiece.
As for Smith’s final year in Seattle, he made the most of former wideout DK Metcalf, who could 15 yards per pass, and fellow former receiver Tyler Lockett, who averaged 12.2 yards per catch. Time will tell if Darnold can find similar connections with Kupp, Smith-Njigba, and Valdes-Scantling or if Wright’s take gets validated.
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