Nine sacks. Harsh criticism. A season to forget. If you had to sum up Sam Darnold’s 2024 Vikings campaign in three points, that might be it. The 27-year-old quarterback endured a brutal wild-card game performance that erased all the positive vibes of a 14-win season. But the Seattle Seahawks have given him a shot at redemption. Darnold is now moving on from the disaster ending of last season with a fresh start—and a fresh contract. But there’s a twist.

The Seahawks have signed Darnold to a three-year, $100 million deal. Sounds like a major commitment, right? Not exactly. The structure of the contract tells a different story. According to multiple sources, only $37.5 million is fully guaranteed for 2025. That means Seattle can cut ties after just one season, owing him only $27.5 million beyond the first year. Essentially, the contract offers the Seahawks a built-in escape hatch if things don’t pan out.

The Seahawks’ signature contract strategy for Sam Darnold

This type of deal isn’t new for Seattle. NFL cap analyst @Jason_OTC pointed out on X, “I know a lot of people are going crazy over Darnold only getting 1 year fully guaranteed. This is the way the #Seahawks do their deals. Even going back to Russ, it was only the 1st year fully guaranteed at signing.” He’s right—Russell Wilson’s last contract with Seattle in 2019 followed the same structure: a four-year, $140 million extension with only the first year fully guaranteed at signing. Now, Darnold finds himself in a similar situation.

Is this a fresh start for Sam Darnold or just a short-term experiment? From Seattle’s standpoint, there’s not much downside. If things don’t work out, they can walk away without major financial damage. But for Darnold, this season is everything. The ending to his 2024 campaign was rough. A beat-down by the Lions in Week 18 and that wild-card game—where he went down nine times—fueled doubts over a season that was looking primed for glory.

Can he bounce back? If not, the Seahawks have no reason to commit beyond this season. While Sam Darnold takes center stage, Seattle has been active elsewhere, reshaping their defense with a key move in the secondary.

Seahawks add former Saints CB to strengthen defense

Seattle has been busy shaking up its roster this offseason. They traded away Geno Smith to the Raiders, released veteran receiver Tyler Lockett, and sent DK Metcalf to the Steelers. On the flip side, they made a splash by signing star wideout Cooper Kupp. And now, they’ve added another key piece: a new cornerback.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler first reported the signing of free agent Shemar Jean-Charles. Soon after, ESPN’s Brady Henderson confirmed it’s a one-year deal. Jean-Charles, a 2021 fifth-round pick, has spent time with Green Bay, San Francisco, and New Orleans, appearing in 37 games with two starts. In Seattle, he could step in as a potential replacement for Tre Brown.

Last season, Jean-Charles was on a one-year deal with the Saints. Several teams had him on their radar, but the Seahawks secured his services. His 2024 stats weren’t eye-catching—14 tackles in nine games—but that was largely due to limited opportunities after being cut in training camp. Now, he gets a fresh start.

If he capitalizes on this chance, Jean-Charles could carve out a solid role in Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks have been methodical in their offseason approach, and this signing aligns with that strategy. With Darnold leading the offense and Jean-Charles strengthening the secondary, Seattle’s new-look squad will soon be put to the test. The only question is—will it all come together?