Quarterback Sam Darnold has agreed on a three-year, $110.5m contract with the Seattle Seahawks, in response to a number of stories.
Darnold had the very best season of his profession with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, main the staff to 14 wins and a playoff look. He replaces Geno Smith, who was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders final week. Darnold’s deal is reported to incorporate $55m in assured cash.
Darnold, the No 3 general decide within the 2018 draft by the New York Jets, thrived beneath AP Coach of the 12 months Kevin O’Connell’s steering in 2024. He threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a passer ranking of 102.5. Darnold additionally turned the fourth participant in NFL historical past to amass 12 video games with a number of TD passes and a passer ranking of 100 or greater in a season, becoming a member of Aaron Rodgers (14) Patrick Mahomes (13) and Matt Ryan (12).
However Darnold, who was picked for the Professional Bowl, had two of his worst video games again to again when Minnesota wanted him most. The Vikings had an opportunity to earn the NFC’s No 1 seed however misplaced 31-9 to Detroit in Week 18. They ended up because the No 5 seed and had been dominated by the Los Angeles Rams within the playoffs, who sacked Darnold 9 instances, intercepted him as soon as and compelled him right into a misplaced fumble.
The transfer means JJ McCarthy, the Vikings’ first-round decide in 2024, is more likely to be the staff’s beginning quarterback this coming season. McCarthy sat out final season by means of harm.
In the meantime, the Jets seem to have crammed their beginning quarterback slot. They’ve reportedly come to phrases with Justin Fields on a two-year, $40m deal. Fields was the No 11 general decide within the 2021 draft when the Jets chosen one other quarterback, Zach Wilson, at No 2. Wilson has since left the staff after a depressing profession in New York, and was changed by Aaron Rodgers, who additionally stumbled with a staff beset by poor possession and questionable personnel decisions.
New York now will hope that Fields can revive his profession with the Jets, who’ve a brand new regime in head coach Aaron Glenn and basic supervisor Darren Mougey. Fields will likely be reunited with huge receiver Garrett Wilson, his former faculty teammate. Fields has handed for 7,780 yards and 45 touchdowns with 31 interceptions in 50 video games, together with 44 begins in 4 seasons. He has rushed for 19 scores.
Elsewhere on Monday, stories emerged that the Los Angeles Chargers will deliver again edge rusher Khalil Mack with a one-year deal for a totally assured $18m and half with working again Gus Edwards. Mack, who turned 34 final month, made the Professional Bowl in every of his first three seasons with the Chargers. He has missed just one recreation in that span whereas recording 31 sacks and 49 quarterback hits in 50 begins. Edwards was launched to avoid wasting greater than $3m towards the 2025 wage cap.
In Tampa, Professional Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick reportedly agreed to a one-year cope with the Buccaneers price $14m. The deal is known to incorporate $12m assured. Reddick is coming off a season through which he didn’t play till late October amid a contract-related holdout state of affairs with the Jets, who obtained Reddick final March from the Philadelphia Eagles for a conditional 2026 draft decide.
The Bucs’ high free agent, Chris Godwin, has additionally reportedly opted to re-sign with the staff fairly than depart for extra money elsewhere, signing a $66m, three-year contract.
The Washington Commanders, in the meantime, made two large splashes, reportedly agreeing to phrases with defensive deal with Javon Kinlaw and buying standout offensive deal with Laremy Tunsil in a commerce with the Houston Texans. Coming off the very best season-to-season enchancment in franchise historical past – from 4-13 to 12-5 – and an unbelievable run to the NFC championship recreation in quarteeback Jayden Daniels’ spectacular rookie 12 months, Washington had among the many most wage cap area within the league, with greater than $80m to spend earlier than agreeing to phrases with Kinlaw and buying and selling for Tunsil.
Groups can’t formally signal free brokers till Wednesday, the beginning of the brand new league 12 months.
