With both Sam Darnold and Justin Fields landing sizable contracts despite their mixed track records, the Seahawks & Jets are betting big on their potential. Fresh off a strong 2024 season with Minnesota, Darnold showed promise but faltered in critical moments, while Fields has yet to consistently prove himself as a franchise QB. With new pressure mounting, only time will tell if these teams' investments pay off or become costly gambles. Without question, supply and demand dictate any market, whether it be in real estate or this case, NFL QBs.
This is why the Seattle Seahawks just signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract, with $55 million guaranteed. It's also the same reason why Fields hit the jackpot, inking a two-year, $40 million deal - $30 million of it guaranteed – with the beleaguered New York Jets.
Both teams are taking huge risks. Although Darnold put up incredible numbers in Minnesota last year – and was one of the 2024 season’s feel-good stories – his 35 TD, 4,300-yard-plus campaign could be a one-off.
Why?
Simple: In must-win situations, Darnold imploded, especially near the end of the year.
He was sacked a record nine times in the Vikings' wildcard loss to the Rams, following a disastrous season-ending game where they were defeated 31-9 by the Detroit Lions, where he threw for only 116 yards while being overwhelmed.
These two games highlighted his major weaknesses: holding onto the ball too long in an attempt to make a play and struggling with mobility. Ultimately, he failed to navigate the pocket effectively under pressure. It's interesting because those weaknesses weren’t evident during his monster season – a season in which he was set up for success while having perhaps the league’s best-receiving core at his disposal (Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, TE T.J. Hockenson & RB Aaron Jones).
As a result, while his regular season was sterling, he came unglued down the stretch, culminating in a humiliating loss to the Rams.
Additionally, With a career completion percentage of 61.2 percent and 98 TDs to 68 interceptions, you have to wonder if Darnold can come anywhere close to replicating 2024. It figures to be difficult, seeing that he no longer has WRs D.J. Metcalf or Tyler Lockett to throw to in Seattle. At this point, all he has is 3rd-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Then, there’s Fields.
In 10 games with the Steelers, he posted 5 touchdowns and just one interception, a solid, albeit small, sample size. However, his overall career numbers are mediocre, with 45 touchdowns to 31 interceptions. While it can be argued that he played for poorly coached teams in Chicago, he also showed flaws in Pittsburgh, including a lack of touch on deep throws (one of the reasons the Steelers replaced him with Russell Wilson) and a tendency to take too long to go through his reads. Additionally, he prefers to run too much, often recklessly, which puts his durability and decision-making in question. Granted, no quarterback is perfect, but these recurring issues have held him back from realizing his full potential, leaving teams uncertain about his ability to consistently perform at a high level.
Given their track records, the Seahawks and Jets are taking significant risks by naming Darnold and Fields as their starters, especially considering the pressure both quarterbacks will face to perform on teams that range from fair to middling, all while carrying the burden of their mental baggage. With the weight of expectations resting on their shoulders, both players will need to prove they can deliver consistent results, and only time will tell if they can justify the substantial investments their teams have made in them.
