After spending five years In Seattle, Geno Smith’s Seahawks chapter is finally over. But was not it already on the cards? Back in Jan 2024, Seattle sacked then-HC Pete Carroll after an underwhelming season in 2023. No doubt, Smith was phenomenal in the 2022 season. he even won the Comeback Player of the Year. But numbers do not lie. Because what followed the next two seasons was an average quarterback in Geno Smith. Just 41 TDs and 24 INTs in 2023 and 2024, compared to his 30 TDs in the 2022 season. As Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report would call it, the Seahawks’ QB was just ‘average’ in 2024. Despite an average season, Seattle was keen on keeping Smith for at least a year, but seems like the 34-year-old did not leave the Seahawks with enough options.

Smith was already in the last year of his contract with the Seahawks that would pay him $35 million. But he was keen on adding another $10 million to his $35 million salary for the 2025 season. Of course, Seattle was never going to agree to this and hence, they had to trade him to the Raiders in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. And now, when the Seahawks have also replaced their QB1 with Sam Darnold—comparatively a better option than Smith—on a 3-year $100.5 million deal, they seem to have secured their offense. But something is still off in Seattle.

Darnold is young, is a starting quarterback, led the Vikings to playoffs, and more importantly, he was a free agent. So, what is wrong about this deal? If you see the stat, Darnold actually had a good season with 35 TDs and 4,319 yards. But it was not actually all him. Per Seth Walder of ESPN, Darnold ranked only 14th in QBR (60.4) in the regular season. He managed that barely-above-average level of efficiency with an offensive playcaller in Kevin O’Connell who’s widely considered one of the best in the league. Darnold also had the benefit of arguably the league’s best wide receiver (in Justin Jefferson), a high-quality No. 2 in Jordan Addison and solid pass protection.”

Walder made it pretty clear that any team eyeing for a long-term solution should put their thoughts to bed. “Given that his numbers were more middling than great despite the favorable circumstances around him,” Walder added, “I think Darnold is a below-average starter. That’s not the type of player to whom I want to give a big multiyear guarantee.” So, if the Seahawks fans are making noise about this deal, you do not get to blame them. Because that’s $33.5 million per season for a guy who’s spent most of his career bouncing between ‘maybe he’s got something’ and ‘oh no, not again.’ Whether it is a genius front-office move or just another chapter in Seattle’s long history of quarterback roulette, we do not know it yet, but fans are in no mood to accept this deal.

The idea of swapping one former Jets castoff for another feels more like a lateral move than a step forward. And with Darnold’s deal structured so the team can bail after two seasons, even the Seahawks seem to be hedging their bets.

Maybe Seattle’s front office knows something we don’t. Or maybe they just pulled a classic ‘he’s coming off a great season’ trap… And honestly, that would have been an honest statement. Because, with all due respect, even Sam didn’t know how he did that in Minnesota. His numbers are handsome. But that doesn’t cut it.

Whatever the reason, maybe Seattle would need a lot of convincing to rally behind Sam.

The 12th Man is making its voice heard against Sam Darnold’s move to Seattle

The moment news broke that the Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal, the reactions came in fast—none too thrilled. One fan summed it up best: “Darnold over Geno is insane work. Give me Geno all day, any day.” And can you blame them? Geno Smith wasn’t perfect, but he was reliable, finishing fourth in the league in passing yards last season. That’s not exactly someone you casually ship off for a quarterback whose most consistent stat has been “potential.”

Another fan wasn’t entirely against the move but had one major question: “I’m happy for him, but that still seems like a lot for a guy without a playoff win as a starter.” And, well… they have a point. Darnold had a decent run with the Vikings last season, leading them to the playoffs.

But when the lights were the brightest, things went downhill—fast. He set the all-time record for most sack yards lost in a single playoff game (82 yards!), got sacked nine times, and threw a game-sealing interception. Not exactly the clutch performance you’d expect from a $100M man.

Then there’s the overall downgrade factor. One fan put it bluntly: “They really downgraded their QB room.” That might sting, but the numbers back it up. Geno had a 70.4% completion rate last season, while Darnold has never cracked 64%. Seattle didn’t just swap quarterbacks; they bet on upside instead of proven production.

And when you’re throwing that kind of money around, fans expect more than just a gamble. Of course, some reactions were less analytical and more… let’s call it emotionally charged. One Seahawks fan kept it short and savage: “LMAOOOO holy overpay.” Hard to argue when Seattle could have kept Geno for about the same price while keeping their draft capital.

One fan echoed the frustrations yet again with another, stating: “Seahawks got worse at QB.” And it’s not just about Darnold’s inconsistencies—it’s about the direction of the franchise. Seattle had a solid roster last year, went 10-7, and made the playoffs. Now? They’re rolling the dice on a quarterback with a track record of late-season collapses and hoping for the best.

No wonder why all these stats have not convinced the fans. But in the NFL, perception matters. Maybe Sam could change that perception of the 12s.