Back in February, the Seahawks fans had a fair idea of what to expect from their team in the new season. QB Geno Smith, WR DK Metcalf, were still on the roster, and so was longtime receiver Tyler Lockett. But within a month, the script was flipped. Smith and Metcalf were traded, while Lockett was released. In came Cooper Kupp, edge player DeMarcus Lawrence, and finally, former Vikings Pro Bowl QB, Sam Darnold. This trio has the potential to be anything from spectacular to uninspiring. One thing is for sure that no oddsmakers will be willing to bet on how many wins Seattle will rack up in the coming season. But Michael Irvin might take his chances, especially given his faith in Darnold and Kupp.

The Seahawks fans have every reason to be excited with the additions of Darnold and Kupp. Darnold is coming off a Pro Bowl season, and Kupp is a former Super Bowl MVP. Despite their struggles in recent years, they could reenergize the Seattle offense, especially since the franchise has also brought in Kent Kubiak as offensive coordinator to run a West Coast-style offense. Given Kupp’s football IQ and ability to read defenses, Darnold could carry his Vikings form, and that is why Michael Irvin thinks that the Seahawks have improved their offense.

“I told you they were going to get Sam Darnold. Now, get this—Sam Darnold, who just went 14-3 with Minnesota, runs that same offense. I told you that I said Darnold was in Seattle running the offense that he ran in Minnesota. Yes, you go and do that, and you get rid of Geno for that,” Irvin said in his podcast on March 25.

He further added, “Geno is what I like to call a defensive coach’s quarterback. We want him to make plays, but we want to win the football game on defense. He’ll get you 300 yards, two or three touchdowns, but don’t make me carry the game. Sam Darnold has the ability, and with Kubiak, he’ll put together a scheme, a West Coast scheme. You guys call it the Kyle Shanahan scheme, or Sean McVay scheme, but really, Mike Shanahan, and they’ve been running that forever.”

Last season, Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns for the Vikings and was picked off just 12 times. Yes, he was surrounded by the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson, but Kupp will offer him the chance to thrive as well. With Kupp in the mix, the vision is clear. Unlike traditional outside receivers who win with size and athleticism, Kupp’s game is built on precision, timing, and knowing exactly where to be.

While Irvin admitted that DeVante Adams, whom the Rams got as Kupp’s replacement, is better when it comes to dominating outside, the former Rams man brings a lot to the table. “Cooper Kupp, sense of timing, and understanding of timing, and understanding of defenses, and understanding where he needs to be, and not only where, but when he needs to be there, second to none in anybody in the NFL,” Irvin warned. Simply put, Kupp’s presence makes him the perfect security option for Darnold. If defenses don’t figure out how to stop it fast, Seattle’s passing game is going to be a serious problem for their opponents.

But there is room for concern with these new additions.

Darnold signed a three-year deal worth $100.5 million, which is effectively a one-year, $37.5 million deal with no guaranteed money beyond next season. His success with the Vikings came behind an impressive pass-blocking offensive line, something that the Seahawks lack. Last season, Seattle allowed 54 sacks, tied for the third most in the league. Not to mention that Darnold has historically struggled under pressure, ranking 38th out of 44 QBs in interception rate when pressured (3.8%) according to PFN.

Moreover, he struggled big time in the final two and perhaps the most crucial games of the season for the Vikings. Adding to his challenges is the fact that Kupp hasn’t seen much game time in the last three years.

Kupp, who signed a three-year, $45 million deal, has been hampered by injuries since 2022. He played nine games in that year, 12 in 2023, and the same number last season. Seattle and Darnold are relying on him staying fit for much of the season, and this already raises some questions over how the duo will perform.

However, in his 12 games for the Rams last season, he registered 67 receptions for 710 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns. Kupp is still capable of going the distance and will be hungry more than ever to prove himself. Having worked with top QBs like Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford, Kupp is looking forward to his partnership with Darnold.

“I’d watched him quite a bit when he was at USC. Watched him early in his career and thought in terms of throwing the football, he makes some incredible throws.” Kupp said in his introductory presser last Tuesday. Darnold has been given the opportunity to firmly establish himself as the franchise’s quarterback of the future, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba also stepping into a bigger role outside.

Kupp and Darnold have been projected to be efficient for the Seahawks, and the Seahawks fans will hope that Michael Irvin’s prediction comes true, just like it did with him forecasting the moves in the first place.

Michael Irvin flexes on Seahawks’ Cooper Kupp signing

Michael Irvin is out here talking his talk like he just won another ring. The second news dropped that Cooper Kupp signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Seahawks, he was quick to remind fans that he called it first.

On his podcast, he added, “I guarantee you, I told you this before it went down, and I want you to look back over it because I promise you, I was probably the only one that had him going to Seattle.”

But Irvin isn’t just chatting—he’s got the receipts. He made it clear that Kupp’s game is built differently, and the stats prove it. Back in 2021, Kupp ate up the league, leading in receptions (145), yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16), winning the rare “triple crown” for receivers. Seattle just locked in a guy who knows the ball like no other—and Irvin is making sure everyone knows he saw it coming first.

Now, let’s talk about the Kupp-Sam Darnold link-up because Michael Irvin thinks it’s going to hit differently. “He’s going to be Sam Darnold’s comfort blanket,” he said, and honestly, he might be spitting facts. Kupp has that sixth sense for getting wide open, which made Matthew Stafford’s life a breeze in LA. Now, with a fresh offensive scheme under Kent Kubiak, Darnold might finally have the tools to not fumble the ball. If he can just play steady football, Kupp might make him look really good.