Seahawks applauded for 'team-friendly' $100 million free-agent contract

The Seattle Seahawks were in need of a new quarterback after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Smith was a productive player for the team, but at 34 years old and in the midst of an ongoing contract dispute, both sides agreed to part ways, leaving the Seahawks with a big hole under center.

Immediately after trading Smith, the Seahawks turned their focus to free agent Sam Darnold, ultimately signing him. Darnold's contract entailed a three-year deal worth $100.5 million, with $55 million guaranteed.

Recently, Dan Graziano of ESPN called the contract one of the most team-friendly deals in the NFL.

"If Darnold plays out the first two years of this contract, he'll have made $65 million. If he plays all three, he'll get the full $100.5 million. That's still just $33.5 million per year, which makes Darnold the 18th highest-paid quarterback in the league by average annual salary. Team-friendly deal," Graziano wrote.

Although some believe Darnold is overrated and not worth the money — mainly due to his playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, where he was sacked nine times — his numbers in 2024 speak for themselves.

Darnold finished the season with an impressive 35 touchdowns and 4,319 passing yards. Both stats ranked fifth among all quarterbacks and earned him his first Pro Bowl nod.

"Darnold was an unrestricted free agent this offseason, when most teams believed there weren't many great quarterback options," Graziano said. "So for Seattle to get him on this deal is impressive, especially after he threw 35 touchdown passes last season with the Vikings."

The Seahawks landing Darnold, who posted top-five stats last season, with the 18th-richest quarterback contract in the NFL is a tremendous value move. Not to mention, if things go south, the Seahawks can get out of the deal in 2026.