When NFL contracts get signed, there may be at all times an emphasis placed on the variety of years and whole greenback quantity that the contract may be price if every part goes completely based on plan. However these numbers are virtually at all times to make headlines, increase agent and participant egos and get essentially the most consideration attainable.
The extra essential issue is the assured cash and the way in which the contract is structured, that may give groups an out within the occasion issues don’t go as deliberate.
That brings us to the three-year, $100.5 million contract quarterback Sam Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks within the early levels of this 12 months’s free company signing interval.
Whereas the $100.5 million seems to be like a giant quantity for Darnold, the construction of the contract reportedly makes it so Seattle may dump him after this season and haven’t any lifeless cash on its books in future seasons.
In keeping with ProFootballTalk on Sunday, whereas Darnold’s $37.5 million wage for the 2025 season is totally assured, the Seahawks have a few outs within the deal.
First, the relevant contract details via PFT:
“Per a supply with data of the phrases, right here’s the tough breakdown:
1. 2025 compensation: $37.5 million, totally assured.
2. 2026 compensation: $27.5 million, $17.5 million of which is assured for harm and turns into totally assured within the week after Tremendous Bowl LX.
3. 2027 compensation: $35.5 million, non-guaranteed.
The deal additionally contains $2 million per 12 months for particular person efficiency, $2.5 million per 12 months for postseason efficiency, and $500,000 per 12 months for group efficiency.”
In different phrases, if Darnold is unable to duplicate his 2024 efficiency and regresses again to the lower-tier quarterback he has been for almost all of his profession, the Seahawks may launch him within the week after Tremendous Bowl LX — assuming he’s wholesome — and never owe him any extra cash or carry any lifeless wage cap cash in future seasons.
It makes the contract a one-year cope with two choice years for the Seahawks.
That’s comparatively low-risk enterprise for the Seahawks. Which can be in all probability good enterprise for them.
Whereas Darnold was one of many high gamers on this 12 months’s open market, and arguably the highest quarterback, there may be nonetheless some query as to how good he’s and what must be anticipated of him within the coming seasons.
His 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings was excellent in serving to lead the group to a 14-3 common season document. He additionally threw for 35 touchdowns to solely 12 interceptions and was one of many largest shock success tales within the league. That efficiency was additionally far and away higher than something he had finished throughout his earlier six seasons within the league, and got here below some fairly excellent circumstances that included an excellent offensive philosophy and game-breaking expertise on the talent positions round him.
What if it was all a fluke?
What if he doesn’t duplicate that in Seattle, and with out having Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison to go and make performs for him?
All legitimate questions.
If Darnold proves the 2024 season was in reality a fluke, they will begin over from scratch in 2026 with no actual penalty and nothing misplaced past Darnold’s 2025 wage.
If he proves that enchancment was for actual, then they’ve their quarterback for the subsequent two years at a fairly favorable worth.
The Seahawks signed Darnold after buying and selling veteran quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third-round draft choose.
