For the first time in nearly a decade, the Seattle Seahawks enter a June without a quarterback question mark clouding the horizon like Puget Sound fog.
Sam Darnold is the starter. Not a bridge. Not a rental. Not a placeholder until a rookie is ready.
The numbers from 2025--4,048 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and a 67.7% completion rate across 17 starts--are no fluke. They reflect a quarterback who, at 29, has found the right system, the right play-caller in offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, and the right mix of skill talent to maximize his strengths: pushing the ball downfield with anticipation while extending plays with his legs when pockets collapse.
Darnold's journey is uncommon. Quarterbacks drafted in the top three who wash out initially, then reemerge as league-average or better starters, are scarce. Rich Gannon and Steve Young are rare examples, though Young's path was unique. From a Jets castoff to Vikings redemption to a Seahawks stabilizing force, Darnold is writing an uncharted manual. He won't turn 30 until next June. If he matches his 2025 production, Seattle will have solved its post-Russell Wilson quarterback quandary for a fraction of the cost of a typical franchise QB.
Head coach Mike Macdonald, speaking Tuesday after the latest OTA session, gave insight into the roster's status with six weeks remaining in the offseason program. His measured tone belied the significance of his update.
"We want to hit timetable goals on that front but as long as you're hitting those markers, why put a cap on things," Macdonald said, when asked about a player's recovery timeline. He declined to name the individual but noted the player is "dealing with some health things right now in terms of his timeline on when he can get back on the field."
This is typical for June. Every NFL team has multiple players whose offseason doesn't go according to plan. The difference lies in how the team is structured to absorb those absences. The Seahawks boast $28.84 million in salary cap space with only $510,000 in dead money, per Over the Cap--a rare position for a playoff team. This flexibility allows GM John Schneider to be opportunistic, ready to pounce on veteran cutdowns in August.
Macdonald also detailed the team's approach to roster evaluation during voluntary practices. "These two days to be able to get additional looks at players like Ricky White, the third guys that aren't the rookies," he said. White, a 2025 draft pick from UNLV, competes for snaps behind veterans Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Kupp, entering his 33rd year, had a solid but slightly diminished 2025 output with 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns. Smith-Njigba, conversely, exploded for 119 receptions, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns--a top-three wide receiver season by any standard.
The depth beyond them is promising. Tory Horton, a 2025 draftee, caught five touchdowns on just 13 receptions last year, a marker of high efficiency albeit in limited action. Jake Bobo and Cody White remain in the mix, while tight end developments might be the most exciting.
AJ Barner, entering his third season, recorded 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 2025--starting tight end production rare for Seattle since Jimmy Graham's 2016 campaign. Barner fills a different role than Graham but stands distinctly ahead of his peers in production. Rookie tight end Elijah Arroyo had 15 receptions and a touchdown, while Nick Kallerup did not catch a pass. Free agent signee Harrison Bryant saw limited action with the Texans last year, registering just two catches.
Seattle's offensive line, a perennial concern, returns Charles Cross at left tackle and Abraham Lucas on the right--both entering their fifth seasons under their rookie contracts. Cross expressed confidence on May 26, telling reporters he feels "110 percent, you know, ready to play ball." That health boost is vital for maintaining line stability. The interior line, anchored by center Olu Oluwatimi, benefits from competition among guards Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes. The Seahawks also added depth with fourth-round pick Grey Zabel, a versatile interior lineman, and fifth-rounder Beau Stephens, noted for his power running.
Defensively, the Seahawks possess the foundation of a top-10 unit. Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed anchor the defensive line's interior. Cornerback Byron Murphy II, entering his third year, expressed high aspirations, saying he feels he can "take my game to a whole other level" and is aiming for All-Pro honors. Murphy consistently generated pressure in 2025, and further growth could position this front seven among the NFC's most disruptive.
The linebacker corps includes key contributors Ernest Jones IV--the every-down thumper acquired in a trade last season--along with edge rushers Tyrice Knight and Derick Hall providing range and pass-rush ability. When healthy, Uchenna Nwosu remains a starting-caliber pressure player.
Seattle's secondary is similarly promising. Cornerback Devon Witherspoon is among the league's best young players at his position, while safety Nick Emmanwori, a 2025 second-round pick, played every game as a rookie last season.
Special teams continue to be a strength. Punter Michael Dickson maintains his elite status, and kicker Jason Myers converted 41 of 48 field goals in 2025 (85.4%), scoring 171 points. Stability here is a significant asset.
Macdonald emphasized the cultural shift underlying the team's offseason. "There's a newness and a freshness to it that really our team needs right now," he said. The Pete Carroll era, with its success, had grown stale by its final seasons. Transitioning to Macdonald hasn't been without growing pains, but the second-year head coach has established his own rhythm. With six weeks before training camp, attention will focus on installing nuanced offensive schemes under Fleury, building on Darnold's resurgence.
The coach also shared the team's development mentality, highlighting a patient approach for younger players. "We have six weeks left in our offseason program and we want to make the best out of each one of those days," he said. Seattle opts not to rush players back or force rookies prematurely; instead, it uses the offseason calendar as a competitive advantage.
One intriguing subplot lies in the backfield. Zach Charbonnet, in his third season, handled a heavy workload in 2025 with 184 carries for 730 yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, and 20 receptions. Yet the Seahawks invested a first-round pick in 2026 on Jadarian Price, a home-run threat from Notre Dame with unmatched burst. A committee approach is likely in 2026. Depth behind them includes Jacardia Wright, George Holani, and Emanuel Wilson, whom Seattle signed away from Green Bay.
The betting markets have noticed. DraftKings lists Seattle at +1000 to win the Super Bowl, the fifth-best odds in the NFC behind the 49ers, Lions, Eagles, and Cowboys. Respectable but not elite, Seattle's ceiling with Darnold at quarterback is higher than many anticipate; its floor is also steadier than in recent years.
The last time the Seahawks entered a June with this level of quarterback clarity, Russell Wilson was 29 and fresh off a 4,023-yard season in 2018. Seattle finished 10-6 but lost in the Wild Card round.
The game has changed, and so has the roster. But the standard in the Pacific Northwest remains high--and in Darnold, the Seahawks have a quarterback who can carry them forward into a new era with optimism and stability.