Sam Darnold Won a Super Bowl and Now the Seahawks Have a Real QB Problem

Sam Darnold delivered the goods in 2025. The man showed up when it mattered most, threw the NFC Championship Game into legendary territory, and got the Seahawks to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. For the first time in what feels like forever, the Seattle starting quarterback position isn't up for debate. Darnold is your guy. Full stop.

But here's where it gets spicy: what the heck do you do with Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe moving forward?

Drew Lock's Final Year Gamble

Lock is in the last year of his two-year deal, and 2025 was weird for him. He got way more playing time than anyone expected, but that's because the Seahawks were blowing teams out so badly that he was mostly handing off the football. When he did throw, it was barely anything to write home about: only three pass attempts all year. At this point in his career, Lock feels like a serviceable backup. That's the ceiling. That said, never say never. Maybe some team out there still wants to take a flyer on him as a starter option. Either way, his contract situation means the Seahawks have to make a real decision soon.

Milroe's Rookie Reality Check

Jalen Milroe came into the league as the most intriguing quarterback prospect in terms of NFL readiness. Then preseason rolled around, and he was basically working with third-stringers. Come regular season, his snaps were exclusively designed runs, and they ranged from meh to absolutely disastrous. His first career turnover was that ill-fated pitch play against Tampa Bay, and honestly, it's been downhill from there. The urgency around Milroe being the next franchise savior has cooled considerably now that Darnold proved he's the real deal.

The Three QB Question

So what's the move? Does Seattle keep all three quarterbacks on the roster heading into 2026, or does one of them hit the road? Lock's contract is expiring, giving the team flexibility. Milroe still has three years of team control, but he's not in the conversation to start right now. The real question for Seahawks Nation: can Milroe become a legitimate QB2 in year two, or is Lock gone and Milroe riding the bench again?

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.