Was a Quarterback Change the Right Move for the Seahawks?
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to pick up their first win of the season, moving to 1-1 for the year. Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, while also tossing two interceptions. While this performance is a step in the right direction after his 150-yard, zero-touchdown performance in Week One, it raises questions about whether Seattle’s decision to move on from Geno Smith was the right choice. The Seahawks sent Smith to the Raiders in March for a third-round pick, signing Darnold later in the month.
Darnold’s performance in Week Two wasn’t awful by any means, but it certainly wasn’t ideal for a quarterback whose contract is worth over a hundred million dollars. Darnold’s play becomes even more disappointing when you compare it to Smith’s performance in his Raiders debut. Smith threw for over 350 yards, looking like he did in his 2022 Comeback Player of the Year campaign. Seattle traded Smith due to disputes over a contract extension, but the signal-caller was still under contract for the 2025 season.
When Seattle signed Darnold, they negotiated a deal that allows them to cut ties after year one without a cap hit. The Seahawks then drafted Jalen Milroe in the third round, with the intention of having him sit behind Darnold and learn. So if the Seahawks’ intention was to find a quarterback in the draft, why not stick with the already established Smith for 2025? Darnold was a risky signing, as he was coming off a season where he crumbled under any sort of pressure.
For Darnold, the jury is still out as to whether he will put it together in Seattle. Two games in is way too early to judge a player’s season, but the way it is trending so far does not look great. If Darnold continues to struggle, Mike Macdonald may try to work Milroe into the rotation, giving his potential quarterback of the future actual NFL reps. As the Seahawks look forward to Week Three, Darnold has a chance to bounce back against the Saints, who currently have the lowest PFF graded defensive line in the league.
