The Los Angeles Rams are looking to take another step toward a championship this offseason. While they have tosay goodbyeto Cooper Kupp. Matthew Staffordis returningand top target Puka Nacua is in place as the Rams look to build off an NFC West division title from a year ago.
It appeared that the Rams received some good news when Geno Smith was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday night. The Seattle Seahawks are now without a quarterback and the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals have some heavy lifting to do in order to compete in what could be a wide-open division.
But just as the Rams were planning their playoff plans, a new rumor surfaced. If it comes to fruition, the division race could get a lot more interesting heading into next season.
Seahawks Expected to Target Sam Darnold After Geno Smith Trade
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, multiple decision-makers expect Sam Darnold to sign with the Seattle Seahawks after they traded Smith on Friday night. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero also reports that Darnold is unlikely to return to the Minnesota Vikings, which makes Seattle a likely destination.
As free agency approaches, the QB carousel is beginning to spin:
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini)March 8, 2025
◽️ Decision makers around the league expect Sam Darnold to end up in Seattle on a multi-year deal
◽️ Minnesota will attempt to pivot and sign Daniel Jones, who is receiving interest from the Colts
◽️ The Vikings…pic.twitter.com/wu8NHBg4dW
With the Geno Smith trade opening a spot in Seattle, Sam Darnold is not expected to return to the#Vikings, who are now focused on other options they’ve been pursuing in recent weeks, sources tell The Insiders.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero)March 8, 2025
Those options include re-signing Daniel Jones, who is mulling…pic.twitter.com/TYhgG9jPhf
The Seahawks are an obvious fit in that they just traded away their starting quarterback. Although they pick 18th in next month’s draft, they could be too far away to select Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward. Seattle also has $62.5 million in cap space, clearing the way to give Darnold a multi-year deal in the range of the $40.1 million annual valueprojected by Spotrac.
Darnold is coming off the best season of his career, completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings. The Vikings worked to keep Darnold at a reduced price, but the Seahawks' opening has caused them to pivot to other options.
This is a mixed bag for the Rams. Getting a top free-agent quarterback into the division isn’t ideal but the Rams beat Darnold twice last season, including a nine-sack performance in a 27-9 victory in the Wild Card round of last year’s playoffs.
But Darnold also has some familiarity in Seattle with Klint Kubiak hired as their offensive coordinator. Darnold worked with Kubiak during his lone season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 and will have some comfort in a system that could take concepts from O’Connell’s offense next season.
It creates an interesting storyline and could complicate Los Angeles’s quest to repeat as champions next season.
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