Sam Darnold, the Seattle Seahawks’ starting quarterback, showcased a mixed performance during the team’s fourth day of organized team activities (OTAs). At 27 years old, he joined the Seahawks after posting an incredible Pro Bowl season with the Minnesota Vikings. He struggled dramatically on the field, tossing two picks on three attempts in a pivotal 7-on-7 red zone drill.
Darnold’s issues were easy to see, especially when he needlessly prolonged plays by avoiding what little pressure came his way for much of the night. Coach Mike Macdonald noted that Darnold responded positively after the interceptions, demonstrating resilience as he worked through the practice session.
Throughout the day, it was clear that Darnold held a steadying force over the offense. He deftly maneuvered around the defense to the goal line. Macdonald was particularly impressed by his doggedness — what he considered a superhuman capacity to recover from failure. He knew there would be mistakes during this initial stage of the offseason program.
“It’s early in the offseason program and some of these things you expect to make mistakes on,” Macdonald said. God forbid you’re like the worst player of all time because you made one bad throw one bad decision.
Despite losing arguably the best defensive player in Darnold, Minnesota still managed to a 14-3 regular-season record. His overall career starting record is 21-35 after six years playing NFL football. The Vikings opted not to re-sign him in March. Darnold’s performance last season has generated expectations for his role with the Seahawks. With an adjusted per-year average salary of $33.5 million for this season’s salary cap, he is positioned as a key player in Seattle’s plans.
Besides Darnold, the Seahawks have veteran backup Drew Lock and rookie Jalen Milroe in their quarterback room. Instead, the team selected Milroe with the 69th overall pick in this year’s draft. They dealt QB Sam Howell to the Vikings, indicating their desire to continue developing their QB options beyond this season.
As Darnold gets used to his new surroundings, Coach Macdonald is hopeful there’s more positive development to come. The Seahawks are clearly thrilled with the opportunity to start polishing their new offense in preparation for the 2024 season. Darnold will be key in determining what offensive identity the Jets develop.
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