Sam Darnold Rumors: Seahawks to Explore Contract After Geno Smith Trade to Raiders

The Seattle Seahawks will reportedly consider Sam Darnold as an option to replace Geno Smith.

Darnold is one of multiple candidates the Seahawks will "explore" after trading Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Friday.

Smith is under contract through the 2025 season. The Seahawks received a third-round pick in exchange for trading him, per Rapoport.

Darnold, who was not franchise-tagged by the Vikings, is set to hit free agency when the league year begins next Wednesday.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said in a Friday appearance on The Rich Eisen Show that the Vikings "have an offer out" to Darnold.

That offer is likely less than the non-exclusive franchise tag price of $41.325 million and for a short term considering he could be seen as a bridge quarterback ahead of J.J. McCarthy's first NFL start.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported Friday that Darnold is seeking "at least a three-year contract" after his career-best 2024 season.

The Seahawks have Sam Howell and Jaren Hall as their only quarterbacks under contract. If Seattle is willing to sign Darnold through 2027, a greater shot at a long-term starting role could be enough to convince him to pass on the Vikings' offer and head west.

General manager John Schneider told reporters as recently as the scouting combine the Seahawks "expect [Smith] to be our guy."

Russini reported Friday that Smith is seeking between $40 and $45 million per year on his next deal, which could have priced him out of the Seahawks' plans.

The Seahawks could spend less money than that on Darnold while reuniting him with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who worked with the quarterback as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator in 2023.