Latest news with #Darnold
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- 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
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Top 100: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold makes debut at No. 72, faces Cardinals twice
New Seahawks QB Sam Darnold, whom the Cardinals face twice this season, is No. 72 in the 'NFL Top 100' in 2025. Last week, the NFL had its third week of revealing players in the "NFL Top 100." After two players were revealed on Monday and another on Tuesday the Arizona Cardinals will face in 2025, a fourth was revealed later in the week, one who will see the Cardinals twice in 2025. On Friday, a fifth, also someone in the NFC West was revealed at No. 72. That would be Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who played last season for the Minnesota Vikings. It was his career debut in the top 100. He became the first starting quarterback ever to win 14 games in his first year with the team. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson, Darnold's teammate in 2024, said that Darnold throws the ball "effortlessly." "Just a flick of the wrist and it's traveling 60 yards," he said. He also said that his "deep-throw accuracy is phenomenal." Former Vikings teammate safety Cam Bynum joked that players like to call Darnold Sammy Vick, pointing out how athletic he is. Now in Seattle with a different group of skill players, he will face the Cardinals twice. He beat them last season with the Vikings, throwing two touchdown passes, including the game-winner with 1:13 left in the game for a 23-22 win. The Cardinals will face Darnold and the Seahawks in Weeks 4 and 10 in 2025. 'NFL Top 100' opponents for Cardinals in 2025 Of the 30 players in the top 100 revealed as of the end of last week, the Cardinals face the following: Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL insider questions if Sam Darnold can replicate last year's success
Sam Darnold's 2024 season was one of the biggest surprises in the NFL. Many had thought his career was over and he had started his last game in the NFL in New York. JJ Mccarthy going down in the preseason for the Minnesota Vikings and missing the whole campaign provided Sam Darnold a great opportunity. He made the most of it, having an MVP-level season. 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.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Sam Darnold debuts at No. 72 on NFL's Top 100 players list
The annual slow reveal of the NFL's Top 100 players list continues, as players 80-71 have been announced. Making the cut for the first time in his career is none other than Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, who makes his debut at No. 72 overall. Even though the list is based on accomplishments from the previous season, which Darnold obviously spent with the Minnesota Vikings, he is now the second Seahawk to make the 2025 edition of the list. He joins defensive end Leonard Williams, who appeared earlier on the list at the No. 99 spot. Darnold's 2024 season was nothing short of sublime, and perhaps one of the greatest surprises we've ever seen from a quarterback. Originally signed to the backup role, Darnold was thrust into the spotlight when first round rookie JJ McCarthy was lost for the season with a knee injury sustained during training camp. From there, Darnold had a Cinderella-esque year for the ages. He set career-highs in passing yards (4,319), passing touchdowns (35) and wins as a starter (14). To say he was more than deserving of his spot on the Top 100 list is an understatement! The Seahawks will certainly be hoping Darnold can replicate his success last year on his new team.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Vikings starter from 2024 makes NFL Top 100 Players of 2025 list
The NFL has started rolling out its Top 100 Players for the 2025 Season. They are doing it exclusively on social media this year, compared to specials on NFL Network, compared to years past, in hopes of garnering more engagement, one can assume. That leads us to the latest player to make the list, the first being Aaron Jones at the 98 spot, followed by Andrew Van Ginkel at the 88 spot. They are now joined by one of their 2024 teammates who left in free agency, Sam Darnold, who earns the 72 spot in the rankings done by his fellow NFL players. Darnold stepped up when the Vikings needed him most in 2024 when their top draft pick, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, went down with a knee injury in the preseason. While many people expected the season to be doomed, Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record and was one game away from winning the NFC North. The former USC Trojan is now back out west with the Seattle Seahawks, whom the Vikings will play in 13.
