NFL insider questions if Sam Darnold can replicate last year's success
The season he had last year was enough to convince the Seattle Seahawks to not pay Geno Smith and sign Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract this offseason. His play may have been enough to convince the Seahawks, but he hasn't convinced everyone that he can be last year's version of himself in another city.
Sam Monson, NFL insider for the 33rd team, gave his thoughts on this topic highlighted in a Seattle Sports piece.
'The first 16 games of last season, Sam Darnold was (at a) Pro Bowl, borderline All-Pro level of play – a genuinely fantastic, completely different player from anything we'd seen in his NFL career thus far,' Monson said. 'And then the final two weeks was a complete and total disintegration and it was all the way back to Sam Darnold seeing ghosts. So we could see anything (this) year. We could see him back up to the Pro Bowl/All-Pro-level Darnold. We could see him go completely in the tank again and be back to being the New York Jets' top pick that was ultimately cast aside and became a journeyman. Or really anything in the middle – inconsistent play week to week, or just a sort of middle ground where he's good but not great.'
The Seattle Seahawks present a totally different environment for Sam Darnold. He is not walking into a situation with the same luxuries he had last season in Minnesota. Several factors will influence which version of Sam Darnold we will get this season.
One magical season could be all Darnold needed to reach what he was expected to be when he arrived in the NFL from USC. The talent has never been a question for Sam Darnold; he had been a victim of his environments in New York and Carolina. He finally found a great spot in Minnesota, but now he has left that comfort zone.
Last season we saw how good he can be when he has all the pieces to be successful. The Seahawks are hoping they have enough to get last year's version of Darnold.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Get ready for Yahoo's 28 Days of Fantasy
In honor of the 28th season of Yahoo hosting fantasy football - take a sneak peek at what's coming for managers this fall. Celebrate the next evolution of Yahoo Fantasy Football - beginning August 4th.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Sam Darnold makes the top 100 NFL ranking list at No. 72
Former USC Trojan Sam Darnold has not been a fan favorite within the NFL media community. Many analysts have viewed his season last year as a one-hit wonder unlikely to be replicated. The players in the NFL however viewed Darnold differently; he was ranked among the top 100 players by his NFL peers. NFL Network's Christian Gonzales broke down this week's rankings for the top 100 players, going through 80-71. He gave his analysis on every selection including Sam Darnold. "In his lone season with the Vikings, Darnold proved he could be a top quarterback in the right situation. Darnold produced career numbers across the board in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage, leading to his first Pro Bowl nod in his one-year stop in Minnesota. In the offseason, Darnold elected to move on from the Viking as he signed a three-year, $100 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. He'll get a chance to showcase that his 2024 emergence wasn't just a one-year wonder," Gonzales wrote. Gonzales also provided NFL Pro Insight's analytics: "Sam Darnold had a career year with the Vikings in 2024, throwing for 1,023 yards on deep passes (20+ air yards), over 150 more than any other quarterback. Darnold also led the NFL in deep completions (28) and tied for the most deep TD passes (9)." This has to be a reassuring feeling for Darnold that his peers view him on a higher level than the NFL media and analysts. The season Darnold had last year deserves great recognition, and it shouldn't be met by analysts saying Darnold was the riskiest signing of 2025. This is well-deserved for Darnold. He can use this as momentum for another season worthy of his talent.
USA Today
27 minutes ago
- USA Today
Ravens training camp: One player to watch at several critical positions
With the first practice set to begin, we're looking at 11 key Baltimore Ravens players to watch at critical positions. The Baltimore Ravens are less than three days away from having rookies and select veterans report to the Under Armour Performance Center for the start of training camp 2025. John Harbaugh's team is loaded on offense with arguably the best quarterback, running back, and potentially the top center in the NFL. With the first practice set to begin, we're looking at 11 key Baltimore Ravens players to watch at critical positions. DE Broderick Washington Washington is more of a defensive tackle than he is a pass rusher, but his presence is needed on a retooled Ravens defense that has elite talent in the secondary. Washington logged 21 tackles (nine solo), including 2.0 sacks, during 15 regular-season appearances (five starts) with Baltimore in 2024. He also had two passes defensed and one forced fumble. RB Rasheen Ali Ali, a 2024 fifth-round pick out of Marshall, didn't see much playing time in his rookie season, recording 10 carries for 31 yards across six regular-season appearances. Baltimore didn't draft a running back and only has four players on the roster at the position. Henry is an All-Pro, Justice Hill is a solid No. 2 running back, and Keaton Mitchell provides a home run threat. Ali needs a strong training camp to warrant the Ravens carrying three running backs. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle OLB Adisa Isaac Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are the unquestioned starters, but the Ravens are hoping 2024 third-round pick Adisa Isaac can take the next step. Isaac saw action in four games and played 32 defensive snaps, as his NFL debut was delayed by a hamstring issue, which sidelined him for the Ravens' first two games. DB Sanoussi Kane Kane is a thumper who also stood out on defense in the preseason last summer. According to Pro Football Focus, he did not allow a single reception on 30 coverage snaps, produced a coverage grade of 73.4, and recorded a forced incompletion and a tackle for loss. RB Keaton Mitchell Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell says he feels better than he did three years ago. As a rookie, Mitchell led all running backs with at least a dozen attempts in yards per carry (8.4 avg), and he has set personal records in all of his speed tracking analytics this offseason. DB T.J. Tampa Tampa only played seven games in his 2024 rookie campaign season. Hampered by an ankle injury that plagued him since Oct. 24, the former Iowa State star couldn't contribute in his first year, but he offers height, length, speed, and physicality. TE Isaiah Likely Likely caught four of five targets for 73 yards and a touchdown in the Ravens' 27-25 divisional-round loss to the Bills. An ascending player who could be the most dynamic weapon on offense, Likely recorded 126 receiving yards during the playoffs, and he had a career-best 42 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. Likely will play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, but a Pro Bowl could be in the cards. OL Roger Rosengarten Rosengarten was the ninth tackle selected in last April's NFL draft, and he earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team. Rosengarten and No. 5-overall pick Joe Alt of the Los Angeles Chargers were the all-rookie offensive tackles. After alternating snaps in the first three weeks, Rosengarten took over as the Ravens' starting right tackle in Week 4 and never looked back, starting 16 games (including the playoffs). Among offensive tackles who played at least 50% of the snaps, Rosengarten ranked No. 39 at his position, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He was credited with four sacks allowed in 488 pass-blocking snaps. OLB Odafe Oweh Oweh has yet to make the Pro Bowl, but that could change this season. Oweh, who added 20 pounds of muscle this offseason, is the Ravens' player most likely to be a first-time Pro Bowler in 2025. Last year, the former first-round pick had the most productive year of his career, logging ten sacks while recording 23 quarterback hits, 12 quarterback knockdowns, and 28 pressures. DB Malaki Starks A Swiss army knife who has already taken on a leadership role, Starks will be a Day 1 starter and will have plenty of opportunities to make his case for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Starks played three seasons for the Bulldogs, recording 197 total tackles, 17 pass deflections, and six interceptions in his collegiate career. In the 2024 season, he had 77 total tackles, four for loss, and one interception. He was an All-American in 2023. OLB Mike Green (Rookie) Last season, as a redshirt sophomore at Marshall, Green led the FBS in sacks (17.0), tackles for loss (22.5), sack yardage (144), and tackles by a defensive lineman (84). His 17 sacks established a new Sun Belt Conference record. Green was the most productive edge rusher by sacks in college football in 2024, and the Ravens acquired a player who should contribute immediately off the edge with his burst and violence.
