Geno, Darnold's new QB rankings will raise an eyebrow

Given what transpired this offseason with the Seattle Seahawks trading away Geno Smith and then signing Sam Darnold, the two quarterbacks’ future trajectories are certain to be closely compared over the next few years.

Or in this case, even where they stand in a set of mid-May QB rankings.

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Pro Football Focus’ John Kosko recently compiled a ranking of where all 32 projected NFL starting QBs stand heading into the 2025 season and separated them into six tiers.

And from a Seahawks perspective, the list certainly was interesting.

Smith is ranked No. 10 and in Tier 3a, which is described as “solid starters who have flashed high-end play.” The other two QBs in that tier are Detroit’s Jared Goff at No. 9 and San Francisco’s Brock Purdy at No. 11.

Darnold, meanwhile, is all the way down at No. 26 and in Tier 5, which was described as “veterans capable of solid play but could be quickly replaced.” Also in that tier are the Giants’ Russell Wilson at No. 27 and the Jets’ Justin Fields at No. 28.

During Wednesday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, former NFL quarterback Brock Huard and Mike Salk gave their reactions to the rankings.

“I don’t remember ever Geno getting this kind of credit (in Seattle),” Huard said. “I don’t think there was a list we’ve ever looked at the last two-plus years (where he was a top-10 QB). … I mean, we were arguing that Geno was top-10 or near that – certainly I was from a statistics standpoint. And he was never touching this. He was always 16, 17, 18.”

Salk then quipped: “But he’s not here anymore, so now he’s No. 10.”

Salk added that he doesn’t think there should be such a big gap between Smith and Darnold.

“I don’t know that either of those (rankings) make a tremendous amount of sense,” Salk said. “It’s not that I disagree with either of those rankings necessarily in a vacuum. It’s the two of them together. Like, if you’re not high on one, I think it would be hard to be too high on the other. To me, they’re in the same realm.

“Like, is one Tier 3 and one Tier 5? No, they’re probably both Tier 4, to be perfectly honest with you. … Both have some ability, both have some upside, both have some arm strength and accuracy. They both have a lot of things going for them, but neither has really done much. Have either of them won a playoff game ever? No, they have not.”

Huard then pointed out that Darnold has an opportunity to significantly raise his standing in the QB hierarchy this fall. The 27-year-old Darnold had a breakout campaign with the Minnesota Vikings last year, but needs to have another strong campaign in Seattle to prove 2024 wasn’t a one-hit wonder.

“I don’t know if there is another player on this list that could elevate himself (like Darnold),” Huard said. “… I mean, if he plays like he did last year over those first 14, 15 games, you’re gonna be in that Jared Goff, Geno Smith 9-10 range.”

Listen to the full Brock and Salk conversation at this link or in the audio player at the middle of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Geno, Darnold’s new QB rankings will raise an eyebrow

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