{"id":528819,"date":"2025-11-16T05:03:12","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T05:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/528819\/"},"modified":"2025-11-16T05:03:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T05:03:12","slug":"seahawks-qb-strategy-stands-out-in-modern-nfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/528819\/","title":{"rendered":"Seahawks’ QB Strategy Stands Out In Modern NFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not exactly reaching showdown games during the period between Russell Wilson<\/a>‘s injury-marred 2021 and Geno Smith<\/a>‘s third and final starter season, the Seahawks enter Week 11 in an interesting position. They match up with a Rams team that has also retooled, as Sean McVay’s team has restaffed its front seven post-Aaron Donald<\/a>. But Los Angeles did not gamble at quarterback — despite pushing its situation to the brink via the Matthew Stafford<\/a> trade sweepstakes.<\/p>\n

The Seahawks, however, did make a bet at the game’s premier position. Through nine games, Sam Darnold<\/a> is rewarding his new team. Although interest naturally emerged for PFR’s No. 1-ranked 2025 free agent, teams were not rolling out substantial multiyear guarantees at signing. A natural suitor for Darnold — the Raiders — backed off, as Tom Brady was not keen on his new team signing<\/a> his old AFC East rival. This opened a door wide for the Seahawks, who are reaping benefits of what now looks like a team-friendly contract.<\/p>\n

Seattle made a daring play at quarterback, trading Smith to Las Vegas three days before the legal tampering period began. A Darnold market that had seemingly cooled reignited, with a new QB-needy team entering the fray<\/a>. Smith’s failed extension talks in Seattle, negotiations the incumbent had pushed for dating back to the 2024 offseason, now represent a seminal moment in Seattle. Darnold agreed to a deal in the ballpark of what the Seahawks offered Smith<\/a>, and his three-year, $100.5MM accord — themed around Baker Mayfield<\/a>‘s 2024 Buccaneers contract — looks like a steal at the season’s midpoint.<\/p>\n

Although the Seahawks’ contract framework added intrigue to this accord<\/a>, the timing of the QB dominoes falling proves a bit more interesting. In the modern NFL, a tiny contingent of teams have been willing to let a first-ballot Pro Bowl quarterback go without having a contingency plan in place.<\/p>\n


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