Let us wind the clock back to springtime 2025. The Minnesota Vikings, coming off their 14-3 season that ended in back-to-back disastrous blowout losses - one being a game where the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the line and the other being a Wild Card round playoff game - were facing a monumental decision: what to do at quarterback?
On one hand, they had the man who won them 14 games. Sam Darnold resurrected his career in a Geno Smith-esque way, as a former Jets flameout-turned-backup-turned Pro Bowler. He set career-bests with 4,319 yards passing and 35 touchdown passes. On the other hand, the Vikings had Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, whom the team selected No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. One quarterback was a known quantity, the other represented potential with his youth and lofty draft status. Minnesota ultimately stuck with their first round pick, and let Darnold walk out the door to Seattle.
Obviously, knowing what we know now, it's safe to say the Vikings probably wish they could have a "do-over" with this decision. Darnold repeated every bit of success he had in Minnesota with Seattle, and then some. He joined Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to have consecutive 14-win seasons and helped guide the Seahawks to their second Super Bowl in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Vikings struggled to finish 9-8, missed the playoffs, and replaced McCarthy with former Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray as their starter for 2026.
Why do I bring any of this up? Because the Seattle Seahawks need to be learning from Minnesota's mistakes. Sam Darnold is under contract for another two years, but he will be eligible next offseason to negotiate for an extension. Seattle will have to decide if they want to keep their Pro Bowl caliber, Super Bowl champion quarterback at a higher salary or roll the dice with a younger quarterback they drafted. In this case, third rounder Jalen Milroe.
The Seahawks drafted Milroe with the intention of developing a quarterback succession plan for the first time in the John Schneider era. But as we've seen in this current preseason, Milroe is nowhere near ready to be Seattle's franchise quarterback. Which leads us back to Darnold.
#milroe
On one hand, they had the man who won them 14 games. Sam Darnold resurrected his career in a Geno Smith-esque way, as a former Jets flameout-turned-backup-turned Pro Bowler. He set career-bests with 4,319 yards passing and 35 touchdown passes. On the other hand, the Vikings had Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy, whom the team selected No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. One quarterback was a known quantity, the other represented potential with his youth and lofty draft status. Minnesota ultimately stuck with their first round pick, and let Darnold walk out the door to Seattle.
Obviously, knowing what we know now, it's safe to say the Vikings probably wish they could have a "do-over" with this decision. Darnold repeated every bit of success he had in Minnesota with Seattle, and then some. He joined Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to have consecutive 14-win seasons and helped guide the Seahawks to their second Super Bowl in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Vikings struggled to finish 9-8, missed the playoffs, and replaced McCarthy with former Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray as their starter for 2026.
Why do I bring any of this up? Because the Seattle Seahawks need to be learning from Minnesota's mistakes. Sam Darnold is under contract for another two years, but he will be eligible next offseason to negotiate for an extension. Seattle will have to decide if they want to keep their Pro Bowl caliber, Super Bowl champion quarterback at a higher salary or roll the dice with a younger quarterback they drafted. In this case, third rounder Jalen Milroe.
The Seahawks drafted Milroe with the intention of developing a quarterback succession plan for the first time in the John Schneider era. But as we've seen in this current preseason, Milroe is nowhere near ready to be Seattle's franchise quarterback. Which leads us back to Darnold.
#milroe
2 months ago
