The Seattle Seahawks have discovered the substitute for Geno Smith, agreeing to a three-year, $100.5 million contract with Sam Darnold, an individual with data of the deal instructed The Related Press on Monday.
The individual, chatting with the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of groups can’t signal free brokers till Wednesday, stated $55 million of the contract is assured. Darnold will earn $37.5 million in 2025.
Darnold had a breakthrough season in his solely yr in Minnesota, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 TDs whereas posting a 102.5 passer ranking and main the Vikings to 14 wins.
Darnold was drafted third general by the New York Jets in 2018, however struggled mightily throughout three seasons with the Jets and two with Carolina. His 78.2 passer ranking throughout that point ranked third worst amongst 53 QBs with at the very least 500 makes an attempt.
However the 27-year-old Darnold has revitalized his profession since then.
After spending the 2023 season as a backup in San Francisco, Darnold lastly performed to his potential for many of the season. His 12 video games with a number of TD passes and a passer ranking of at the very least 100 rating tied for the fourth most ever in a season, trailing solely MVP seasons from Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Patrick Mahomes (2018).
However Darnold ended his season by posting back-to-back duds in his closing two video games: a Week 18 sport in opposition to Detroit for the No. 1 seed within the NFC and a wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Darnold went 18 for 41 for 166 yards and no TDs in a 31-9 loss to the Lions in Week 18 after which threw for 245 yards and had two turnovers the subsequent week in a 27-9 loss to the Rams.
His efficiency in these key video games contributed to the choice by the Vikings to let Darnold hit the open market and switch the crew over to J.J. McCarthy, who was drafted tenth general final season.
The transfer for Darnold comes three days after the Seahawks agreed to a deal to ship Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round draft decide. Smith was getting into the ultimate yr of his deal and Seattle was unable to agree on an extension, resulting in the transfer to make a change at quarterback.
The Seahawks are present process main modifications on offense, having additionally agreed to commerce star receiver D.Ok. Metcalf to Pittsburgh for a second-round decide and have minimize receiver Tyler Lockett.
The trades received’t be official till Wednesday.
The reset in Seattle comes after the Seahawks went 10-7 in coach Mike Macdonald’s first season however missed the playoffs. Seattle has one playoff win previously eight seasons, beating Philadelphia in a wild-card sport in 2019 underneath coach Pete Carroll. However the Seahawks need to get again to the extent of Tremendous Bowl contender they’d early in Carroll’s tenure and are hoping Darnold may also help them get there.
The Seahawks did preserve one among their very own potential free brokers, signing defensive deal with Jarran Reed to a multi-year deal. The 32-year-old Reed performed all 17 video games final season, with 4 1/2 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. He has 38 1/2 sacks in 9 seasons with Seattle, Kansas Metropolis and Inexperienced Bay.