Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold finally gets the recognition from his peers across the NFL that he deserves

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Nick Roesch | Last updated Jul 18, 2025 3:52 PM ET

Quarterback Sam Darnold is now the second Seattle Seahawks player to make the NFL's 2025 Top 100 Players list, joining defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who came in at No. 99. Darnold landed at No. 72 in his debut on the rankings list.

From NFL.com: "In his lone season with the Vikings, Darnold proved he could be a top quarterback in the right situation. Darnold produced career numbers across the board in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage, leading to his first Pro Bowl nod in his one-year stop in Minnesota. In the offseason, Darnold elected to move on from the Viking as he signed a three-year, $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. He’ll get a chance to showcase that his 2024 emergence wasn't just a one-year wonder. Darnold had a career year with the Vikings in 2024, throwing for 1,023 yards on deep passes (20+ air yards), over 150 more than any other quarterback. Darnold also led the NFL in deep completions (28) and tied for the most deep TD passes (9)."

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It's great to see Darnold get his due. He resurrected his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions; while also tacking on 212 rushing yards and one rushing TD.

Not everyone is sold that Darnold can carry that momentum over to Seattle , giving him the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong once again in 2025. There are factors out of his control, such as the question marks the Seahawks have regarding their offensive line and the health of wide receiver Cooper Kupp. If everything can come together, however, Seattle could be a dark horse in the NFC.

2025's Top 100 Players list is being released a little bit differently this year. Only two players are being revealed on each weekday, a total of 10 per week. The announcements are coming via X and NFL+, running through August 29th. The top 10 will be aired on NFL Network on September 1.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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