Jerseys haven’t even faded in the wash yet, and Sam Darnold already has a storm brewing over his shoulder in Seattle. Just weeks after inking a fresh three-year deal, the veteran QB was supposed to get a clean slate—a new city, new coach, new shot at QB1. But in true NFL fashion, the ink was barely dry before the Seahawks brought back an old flame. If Darnold thought he’d have a quiet ramp-up into Klint Kubiak’s offense, think again. The Seahawks aren’t waiting for someone to win the job—they’re stockpiling arms like it’s the 4th quarter of a playoff game and the starter’s got a limp.

Sam Darnold suddenly has a lot more company than expected in Seattle’s QB room. When Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell spoke about Darnold heading to the Seahawks, he said, “Seattle’s going to be really happy with Sam.” But from the looks of it, the Seahawks aren’t just betting on one guy. They want more depth at the QB position, and that’s not a bad thing. Every team needs a good backup.  Darnold’s coming off a season where his team won 14 games, but that doesn’t guarantee anything in a new system.

For that reason, the Seahawks front office made a decision. Drew Lock, Darnold’s new backup (and former NFC West understudy), is back in the building on a fresh $5 million deal. The QB’s first stint with Seattle was in 2022, when the Broncos traded him in exchange for Russell Wilson. He served mostly as a backup to Geno Smith during his two-year stint with the team, starting in only two games when Smith was injured.

Last year, Lock signed a contract with the NY Giants, and a year later, he has come back home again. Talking about having Drew back on the roster again, Seahawks GM John Schneider said, “Drew wanted to come back. He’s loved in this building. He had a great experience here… To be able to get him back in this building and to have three guys on the roster that have 42 (combined) starts in the last two years and 119 total, that’s pretty cool.” The team now has four players in the QB room, and Schneider believes Seattle has a “great situation” with this.

And now? The draft buzz has officially kicked into overdrive. With whispers linking Seattle to a top draft prospect and insiders hinting that the Seahawks still aren’t done adding QBs, it’s clear the front office wants options—short-term depth and long-term vision. Which leaves Darnold in a familiar position: battling for belief in a league where faith fades fast.

It’s looking increasingly likely the team ends up drafting another QB next week. Several analysts predict that this one QB could land on the Seahawks‘ roster.

Seahawks’ QB room could get more crowded

“Signing Lock is unlikely to affect whether Seattle drafts a quarterback. Schneider is open to drafting one every year, and coach Mike Macdonald feels the same way.” NFL Insider Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic is not convinced that the Seahawks won’t pick a QB in the draft after signing Drew. Dugar writes, “A quarterback depth chart featuring Darnold, Lock, and Howell, three guys who have each had at least one failed stint as a starter, probably won’t dissuade Schneider from investing in a prospect he views as a potential starter.“

So, who could be the QB that might get a chance with Sam Darnold? ESPN’s analyst Ben Solak, in his mock drafts, has Seattle picking the Louisville Cardinals QB Tyler Shough. “Shough is a great fit in Klint Kubiak’s Shanahan-inspired system. He ran a ton of play-action at Louisville and is comfortable going under center, taking deep dropbacks, and hitting big throws into the windows created by those fakes,” writes Ben. Tyler has suddenly gained new hype in the mock drafts. An anonymous GM also called the Louisville QB, “the best pure thrower of the ball.“

Another reason the Seahawks might draft another QB is that they want a long-term solution at that position. Seattle knows that Sam Darnold, or the other three, won’t be the answer in the long run. And when it comes to Darnold, the team might move on from him as early as next season if things don’t go the way they hope. 

Seattle has structured Darnold’s three-year, $100.5 million contract in a way that they can choose to part ways with him after the 2025 season. That pretty much speaks volumes about their plans with the veteran QB. So, with Seattle stacking QBs and eyeing the draft, Sam Darnold’s starting spot might be slipping before it’s even his.