As the Minnesota Vikings move forward with the J.J. McCarthy era, the Seattle Seahawks are trying everything they can to make Sam Darnold the franchise quarterback he managed to channel during his lone season in purple and gold.
Per Greg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune, the questions about Darnold's ability to play above himself and lead an offense not led by an offensive genius with Pro Bowlers all over it remain. Perhaps that is why Mike Macdonald tried everything he could to make Seattle as much like Minnesota as possible.
“Darnold is likely to be best only if [offensive coordinator Klint] Kubiak succeeds in establishing and continually employing an effective running game. It’s why Macdonald hired the outside, wide-zone devotee from the New Orleans Saints this offseason."
Like Minnesota, Seattle knows that Darnold could be a time bomb if not properly supported.
Seattle Seahawks reporter voices familiar concern for former Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold
Darnold's 35-touchdown season on a 14-win Vikings team stands out as a major outlier throughout is career, as he had never thrown more than 19 touchdown passes in any single season prior to 2024 and twice ended up with more interceptions than touchdowns. The Vikings didn't look back when presented with the chance to boot him for McCarthy.
The Seahawks may have invested in Darnold heavily, but they made sure to give them enough financial flexibility to cut bait with him before the three years elapse without a heavy penalty. They also have a few replacements ready to take his spot should he falter.
Not only did the Seahawks bring back veteran Drew Lock, who has past experience with this organization, as a backup, but they used a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on much-ballyhooed Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. As Darnold showed in New York and Carolina, his penchant for disaster can be quite destructive.
While Darnold's time with the Vikings was spectacular, part of the reason he had the year that he did was the fact that she was in an ideal situation. Justin Jefferson is as good as it gets at wide receiver, Aaron Jones led a strong ground game, and Kevin O'Connell is one of the best offensive minds.
Darnold made enough improvements to have success in a similar scheme in Seattle, especially if Kenneth Walker III can stay healthy. However, Darnold could turn back into a pumpkin once the O'Connell pixie dust wears off and the same Darnold Vikings fans saw for most of his career pops back up.