The quarterback has grown and was looking for a multiyear commitment. In Seattle, he found coaches who had seen his improvement and an organization that could support him.

The three-year, $100.5 million contract signed last week by new Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold is, in reality, a one-year, $37.5 million deal with a team-held option for 2026 and 2027.

But as first reported by Pro Football Talk Sunday, Darnold’s contract contains fully guaranteed money for only the 2025 season, meaning that if things really go awry, Seattle could cut him following this season and be back in the market for a quarterback a year from now.

The Seahawks gave themselves an escape patch in Sam Darnold’s contract. Darnold, after a renaissance season with the Vikings, signed a three-year deal worth $100.5 million with the Seahawks in free agency. But the Seahawks can get out after just one year with the way the contract is structured.

The Seahawks are betting on the philosophy change Darnold adopted the last few years with the 49ers and Vikings will carry over to Seattle.

The Seattle Seahawks were expected to struggle when they traded away nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson and named veteran Geno Smith as their starter. Smith, who became an opening day starter for the first time since 2014, had been written off by the national media. The only problem, he would later say, was that he didn't write back.

The Seattle Seahawks made a shocking quarterback change this offseason when they sent Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and replaced him by signing Sam Darnold to a 3-year, $100.5 million contract.

The Seattle Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to a huge contract in free agency last week, but an interesting detail has emerged about the structure of the deal.