The Seattle Seahawks spent the last three seasons with Geno Smith under center. While he was able to revitalize his career and reach two Pro Bowls during that stretch, Seattle decided to part ways with the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year during the offseason.
They traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft as part of a large-scale overhaul of the offense. Additionally, Seattle released long-time wide receiver Tyler Lockett while sending wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Seahawks front office made a splash pickup as they landed the top quarterback available in free agency, Sam Darnold, on a three-year, $100.5 million contract, which includes $55 million in guarantees. While the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft is coming off the best season of his career, a recent prediction labeled him as Seattle's X-factor heading into the 2025 season.
Sam Darnold needs to have 2024 form for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025
Darnold spent the 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings. While he was expected to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting role, he was named the starter after the rookie tore his meniscus in the first preseason game and underwent season-ending surgery.
The veteran quarterback responded by turning in the best season of his career, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions while completing 66.2 percent of his pass attempts. He was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his lone year with the Vikings.
Despite leading Minnesota to a 14-3 record, they opted not to use the franchise tag on Darnold -- paving the way for him to join the Seahawks. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report labeled the eighth-year quarterback as Seattle's X-factor heading into the 2025 season, writing:
"Darnold might be the biggest X-factor in the entire NFL this season. He's a massive boom-or-bust player for the Seahawks, who traded away two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith. It's a gamble that could either net Seattle a long-term starter or place head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider on the hot seat. Will Darnold continue his NFL redemption in a new environment? Will he revert to the same bad habits that caused the Jets to abandon him after three seasons? Plenty of questions surround Darnold entering the regular season, and the answers could change the course of the Seahawks franchise."
It is no surprise that Darnold is considered Seattle's biggest X-factor, as there have been plenty of questions as to whether he improved as a player or simply benefited from a stacked offensive unit in Minnesota. The Seahawks will mark his fifth team in just his eighth NFL season.
Prior to joining the Vikings, Darnold's numbers were less than impressive as he threw for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions while completing 59.7 percent of his pass attempts. Teams were an abysmal 21-35 with him under center during the first seven seasons of his career.
While Knox suggests that the decision to swap quarterbacks has the potential to go wrong, it should be noted that Seattle can get out of the deal after just one season. Additionally, the Seahawks' supporting cast is much stronger than Darnold had in any of his starting gigs prior to Minnesota.
