Sam Darnold News Announced Before 2nd Seahawks Season

Sam Darnold Lands at No. 21 on NFL Top 100

The NFL revealed Darnold's placement with a social media post highlighting the Seahawks quarterback.

"No. 21 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2026… @Seahawks QB Sam Darnold!" the league announced.

Landing that high on the list represents another impressive milestone in Darnold's career turnaround.

The former USC star entered the NFL as the No. 3 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. His early years with the Jets didn't produce the franchise-changing results many expected, and Darnold eventually began a journey around the league.

His career took a major turn during the 2024 season with Minnesota. Darnold delivered the best season of his career, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Vikings to 14 victories.

That performance helped create his opportunity in Seattle.

Darnold Prepares for Second Season With Seahawks

Seattle signed Darnold in 2025 after moving on from longtime starter Geno Smith, putting the veteran quarterback in charge of a new-look offense.

The Seahawks surrounded Darnold with playmakers and trusted him to build on the breakthrough that had revived his career.

His placement at No. 21 on the NFL Top 100 shows how dramatically the perception surrounding him has changed.

Darnold spent years facing questions about whether he could become a dependable NFL starter. He's now receiving recognition from his peers as one of the league's best players.

The ranking doesn't guarantee anything once the 2026 season begins, of course. Darnold will still be judged by what Seattle accomplishes and whether he can continue performing at a high level.

But before his second Seahawks season begins, the NFL's latest announcement provides another reminder of how far Darnold has come.

Once viewed as a high-profile draft disappointment, Darnold is now ranked among the top 25 players in football.