The Seattle Seahawks are sitting at 9-3 entering Week 14 and have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL, at least partly thanks to quarterback Sam Darnold.
While not every week has been perfect, Darnold has been playing at a high level overall this season, and that has the Seahawks in the running for first place in the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Despite all that, ESPN's Dan Graziano floated the possibility that the Seahawks could cut ties with Darnold in 2026, citing the fact that the veteran does not have any guaranteed money left on his deal beyond 2025.
If the Seahawks cut Darnold within five days after the Super Bowl, they won't owe him anything. Here's Graziano's thoughts on the situation.
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks in free agency this year. He is under contract for a very reasonable $28 million in 2026 and $45.7 million in 2027. But as is the Seahawks' policy with veteran contracts, none of the money beyond the first year was guaranteed at signing. If Darnold is still on the Seahawks' roster five days after the Super Bowl (so, Feb. 13), then $17.5 million of his 2026 compensation becomes fully guaranteed. But if they were to cut him before that, they wouldn't owe even one more penny and would be on the hook for just $25.6 million in dead money.
Now, the Seahawks are one of the best teams in the league, and Darnold is a big part of the reason why. He's ninth in QBR at 64.3 and completing 68.3% of his throws. Odds are the Seahawks keep him for 2026. But they build these contracts this way on purpose -- to give themselves maximum flexibility. If the Seahawks decide Darnold isn't their guy -- or if they find someone else they think is an upgrade -- they would be in position to pivot without very much financial pain.
At this point, it's unfathomable to think the Seahawks could cut Darnold.
Doing so would allow Darnold to walk in free agency for nothing when he could net a good return in a trade, and then the Seahawks would then be left with an uncertain situation at quarterback.
Granted, the team drafted Jalen Milroe in 2025 as a possible contingency plan for the future, but there is no telling if he'll be ready by 2026 given his limited opportunities this season.
No matter what happens the rest of the way, it would make zero sense for Seattle to part ways with Darnold after this season, and especially before free agency and the draft.
We fully expect the Seahawks to hold on to Darnold for at least one more season.
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