RENTON, Wash. \u2014 There are obvious similarities between the Seattle Seahawks\u2019 quarterback situation in 2012 and the current setup with Sam Darnold and rookie Jalen Milroe.<\/p>\n
Darnold is the high-priced, free-agent signee, just as Matt Flynn was in 2012. Milroe was drafted in the third round to be a backup, just as Russell Wilson was that same offseason. Wilson took Flynn\u2019s job that preseason and never looked back.<\/p>\n
There are obvious differences as well. Flynn\u2019s contract, even adjusted for the rising salary cap (his three-year, $26 million deal would equate to $60 million on the 2025 cap), wasn\u2019t nearly as lucrative as Darnold\u2019s three-year, $100.5 million deal. Darnold is also a better player and far more proven commodity than Flynn was. Wilson was also a more refined passer than Milroe, who is entering the league with questions about his ability to do the basics the position requires: throw accurately, on time and go through progressions. The main blemish on Wilson\u2019s scouting report at the time<\/a> was his height<\/a>.<\/p>\n But the most important difference between the two situations is how the head coaches are going about it. Former coach Pete Carroll allowed for a quarterback competition. Second-year coach Mike Macdonald is not doing so \u2014 Darnold is the starter, and Milroe is one of two backups, along with Drew Lock (who would be Tarvaris Jackson, if we\u2019re sticking with the 2012 comparison).<\/p>\n During a KIRO-AM radio interview Tuesday, Macdonald was asked if there was a chance for Darnold to be unseated for a reason other than injury. The question came in the context of Darnold throwing multiple interceptions in Monday\u2019s practice, the first open to the media this offseason.<\/p>\n \u201cYou guys are crazy,\u201d Macdonald said. \u201cI respect you\u2019ve got to ask it, but this is a crazy question. It\u2019s not going to happen. Sam\u2019s our starting quarterback. We love him. He\u2019s doing a tremendous job.\u201d<\/p>\n “Sam’s our starting quarterback.”#Seahawks<\/a> coach Mike Macdonald to @BrockHuard<\/a> & @TheMikeSalk<\/a> on @SeattleSports<\/a>.<\/p>\n FULL VIDEO \ud83d\udcfa: https:\/\/t.co\/2nHH3MqeNL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ZSwNxMOpR7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) June 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Darnold has taken most of the snaps in the two organized team activities open to the media this week (Wednesday\u2019s practice was the fifth of the spring). Lock is operating as QB2, and then Milroe has taken the remaining reps with the third-string unit. Macdonald has said Milroe will have the opportunity to earn regular snaps, and if he comes into a game, the Seahawks will accentuate his strengths as a dual-threat player who can stress the defense as a runner. But we might not see that until training camp.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Darnold said spending time with Lock and Milroe in the quarterback room has \u201cbeen great.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just amazing to be able to share that room and have some great guys that are not only eager to learn but also guys that are great dudes that can also hang out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Macdonald called Darnold to give him a heads-up before selecting Milroe with the 92nd pick in April. \u201cIt was cool\u201d for Macdonald to reach out, Darnold said.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day,\u201d he added. \u201cCommunication is key.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked about the selection of Milroe, Darnold said: \u201cI love J. I see why they took him. Just a great dude who can sling the rock. And he\u2019s a great athlete as well.\u201d<\/p>\n In his first news conference since Milroe was drafted, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said Wednesday that the former Alabama quarterback\u2019s work ethic is what initially stands out.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guy is a worker,\u201d Kubiak said. \u201cYou see him in there at 4:30 in the morning on the field going through his plays. Nobody asked him to do that, but he\u2019s putting in extra time. I\u2019ve seen him grow a lot from rookie minicamp<\/a> to now, so I\u2019ve been impressed with the kid.\u201d<\/p>\n Kubiak also called the rookie a \u201check of an athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe guy is putting a lot of time in learning a brand new way of communicating an offense,\u201d he said. \u201cHis ability to make plays with his feet. He\u2019s got excellent arm strength, great athleticism, and he\u2019s in the process of having his mind catch up to his feet. And the whole offense is doing that, learning a new system. But he\u2019s doing a heck of a job at it thus far.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked how he\u2019ll determine when to insert the specialty package for a second quarterback, Kubiak said: \u201cThey\u2019ve got to go earn it in practice. When they show it, that\u2019s when it\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n Having a clear QB1 should help the other players on offense as they try to build chemistry and grow together in this new scheme. The foundation of the offense will be the outside-zone running scheme, but to maximize efficiency when it\u2019s time to pass, small details can make a big difference. Those are sorts of things Darnold is working on with his collection of new pass catchers.<\/p>\n \u201cWith any receiver, it\u2019s getting to know the body language and how they\u2019re running routes and then being able to talk to them, on and off the field,\u201d Darnold said when asked about getting to know Cooper Kupp specifically. \u201cBeing able to know what he\u2019s thinking in a route versus a certain coverage. Trying to get behind a linebacker, maybe he\u2019s going to throttle it down. Little details like that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been great not only talking to Coop about that stuff, but all the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n In the first team period on the goal line during Monday\u2019s practice, Darnold ripped a touchdown over the middle to Kupp. In a seven-on-seven red zone period, he was picked off by safety Julian Love while trying to squeeze a pass to Kupp in the end zone. Then Darnold and Kupp connected for a touchdown a few plays later. There are going to be ups and downs like that in virtually every practice between now and the season opener because of the talent in Seattle\u2019s secondary<\/a>. That\u2019s why the starting QB needs to make time to establish a rapport with his top targets.<\/p>\n Darnold and Kubiak were together in San Francisco during the 2023 season. Seattle\u2019s current scheme is rooted in similar principles but with other unique elements tailored to what players on the roster do best. Darnold\u2019s familiarity is important as everyone tries to get up to speed quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s studying, he\u2019s teaching the young guys, helping get the system taught, as well as guys like Cooper Kupp,\u201d Kubiak said. \u201cReally impressed with Sam thus far.\u201d<\/p>\n Said Darnold: \u201cI told the guys, \u2018Any questions that you\u2019ve got, come up to me and ask me anything.\u2019 That\u2019s the biggest thing, continuing to talk back and forth with the guys about certain routes and the details.\u201d<\/p>\n The play of the offensive line will determine what type of year Darnold and his pass catchers will have. Three of the five spots are settled. Tackle Charles Cross and first-round rookie guard Grey Zabel will hold down the left side. The right tackle spot belongs to Abe Lucas, finally healthy after consecutive seasons dealing with a knee injury. Olu Oluwatimi and Jalen Sundell are competing to be the starting center.<\/p>\n As for right guard?<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s wide open, brother,\u201d Kubiak said.<\/p>\n Christian Haynes and Anthony Bradford appear to be the two primary guys battling for that spot, but it wouldn\u2019t be surprising to see Sataoa Laumea enter the mix at some point. Lucas said the offensive line can be as good as it wants because the team has the right players, coaches and identity, which he believes is different from last season.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody wants to run the ball,\u201d Lucas said when describing the change in identity, calling it a \u201cnon-negotiable\u201d in Kubiak\u2019s scheme. \u201cWe put a fullback in the backfield. We\u2019re changing it up. We\u2019re doing this differently. It\u2019s like an old-school mentality with a new-school principal. Looking forward to getting after that.\u201d<\/p>\n (Photo of Sam Darnold: John Froschauer \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n