The Seattle Seahawks have signed quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract. However, there’s a special condition in the deal: the team can let Darnold go after just one year, without any financial penalties.
The contract amount is good for the 27-year-old quarterback, but the special condition could be tricky for him. The Seahawks are making the 2025-26 season a “prove-it” year for Sam Darnold, where he has to show results to stay with the team.
Darnold is guaranteed $37.5 million for that season, but the Seahawks can release him before 2026 if he passes a fitness test and stays injury-free. This rule helps the team keep flexibility while avoiding big financial risks.
Look at Seattle's deal with Sam Darnold. All the guaranteed money comes in Year 1 via base salary: $37.5 million.
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 16, 2025
Then the Seahawks essentially have 2 team options at $31.5m APY in 2026 and 2027: pic.twitter.com/MSmRhJ12OR
The contract also offers Darnold bonuses of up to $2 million for personal achievements and $2.5 million more if the team makes the playoffs. While the total contract value is impressive, it’s mostly a one-year trial for Darnold.
NFL analyst compares Sam Darnold to “Tavern Ham”
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra doesn’t think trading for Sam Darnold is a good move for Seattle.
He recently talked about the free agency period and pointed out the best and riskiest moves. Patra put the Darnold signing in the risky category, saying he understands it but doesn’t like it.
Best quote regarding the Darnold signing: “Replacing Smith with Darnold is like substituting prosciutto with tavern ham.”
— Darren (@Big_DMC) March 15, 2025
He compared it to switching prosciutto with tavern ham, meaning Darnold might not be as good as Geno Smith, who had a great season before leaving the Seahawks. Some fans and analysts agree with Patra, but others believe Darnold still has potential.
