How Seahawks could make shocking Sam Darnold decision after season

Quarterback Sam Darnold has been one of the top acquisitions of this past NFL offseason, as he helped the Seattle Seahawks enter December with a record of 9-3. 

That said, some continue to worry that Darnold could turn into a figurative pumpkin on the biggest stages over the next month or so. For a piece published on Friday, ESPN's Dan Graziano shared why the Seahawks aren't necessarily married to Darnold beyond their final game of the ongoing campaign. 

When the Seahawks have to make the next Sam Darnold decision

"Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5M contract with the Seahawks in free agency this year," Graziano wrote. "He is under contract for a very reasonable $28M in 2026 and $45.7M in 2027. But as is the Seahawks' policy with veteran contracts, none of the money beyond the first year was guaranteed at signing. If Darnold is still on the Seahawks' roster five days after the Super Bowl (so, Feb. 13), then $17.5M of his 2026 compensation becomes fully guaranteed. But if they were to cut him before that, they wouldn't owe even one more penny and would be on the hook for just $25.6M in dead money."

According to Pro Football Reference, Darnold heads into the weekend ranked ninth in the NFL among qualified players with a 64.3 adjusted QBR, seventh with a 103.1 passer rating, seventh with 2,913 passing yards, and tied for seventh with 19 passing touchdowns on the season. Such stats show why other teams may hope Darnold becomes available when the new league year opens in March 2026. 

That said, he tossed four interceptions in Seattle's 21-19 Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 16. Fair or not, that performance may have sparked memories of how Darnold played in his final two games with the Minnesota Vikings last season. 

With the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs on the line, Darnold completed 18-of-41 passes for 166 yards with no touchdowns in Minnesota's 31-9 Week 18 loss at the Detroit Lions. He then took nine sacks, had a second-quarter fumble returned for a score, and threw an interception in the Vikings' wild-card playoff defeat against the Rams. 

The Seahawks likely will make this Sam Darnold call?

"Odds are the Seahawks keep him for 2026," Graziano added about Darnold. "But they build these contracts this way on purpose -- to give themselves maximum flexibility. If the Seahawks decide Darnold isn't their guy -- or if they find someone else they think is an upgrade -- they would be in position to pivot without very much financial pain."

The 9-4 San Francisco 49ers trail the Seahawks and 9-3 Rams in the battle for the NFC West division title. Seattle will host the Rams in Week 16, and the Seahawks will end the season with a Week 18 showdown at San Francisco's Levi's Stadium.

Before that, Darnold and Co. will need to take care of business at the lowly Atlanta Falcons (4-8) this Sunday. As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Seahawks as seven-point favorites for that contest.