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The Sam Darnold sweepstakes ended early Monday afternoon, with the Seahawks agreeing to sign the quarterback to a three-year, $100.5 million contract, according to multiple reports, just over two hours after the NFL’s legal tampering period began at noon ET.
The Steelers were also reported to be interested in Darnold, and returning to Minnesota was not entirely out of the question.
Seattle is giving Darnold $55 million in guaranteed money. His average annual salary will come out to just under $33.5 million. Last season, he led the Vikings to a 14–3 record while playing on a one-year, $10 million deal. Had the Vikings placed the franchise tag on him, Darnold would have made $40.42 million on another one-year contract in Minnesota.
The Seahawks traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders over the weekend for a third-round draft pick. Smith is entering the final season of a three-year, $75 million contract but is believed to be seeking a raise in Las Vegas.
The Vikings let Darnold walk in favor of second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was selected with the 10th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy missed all of last season with a knee injury, and will have a salary-cap hit of just under $5 million next season.
At the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said the club was evaluating the short- and long-term aspects of their quarterback options, while Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah admitted that the franchise’s owners were weighing in on the future of who would be under center, too.
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