He was a castoff quarterback from the Carolina Panthers who has enjoyed a complete career revival with his new team. His leadership has carried the club to the top of its division with a 3-1 record, stirring excitement in the franchise’s 50th season.

But no, we’re not talking about the Tampa Bay Bucs’ Baker Mayfield, who has done all of the above.

In this case, we’re referring to Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, who was drafted by the New York Jets third overall in 2018  – just two spots behind Mayfield, selected No. 1 overall by Cleveland.

And what Darnold has done with the Seahawks in his first season at the helm mirrors what Mayfield has accomplished since joining the Bucs in 2023.

He is lighting up the aerial attack with an 8.60-yard average on pass plays (second in the NFL), an average of 27.8 points scored per game (sixth in the league) and a 106.4 passer rating (second only to Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson). And Darnold is just one of the numerous challenges facing the Bucs when they take on the Seahawks in Lumen Field Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

"I think he is really operating their offense at a high level,” said Tampa Bay defensive pass game coordinator George Edwards. “I was with (Seattle) for a while in this system (and) you can just tell through his reads and his progressions, he is getting the ball out of his hands (quickly), he understands what they are trying to accomplish unselfishly in the run game, with the play-action, (and) doing a good job with the play-action fakes to try and get the ball down the field.”

It took a while for Darnold to develop into the top quarterback he is today. He endured three disappointing seasons with the Jets (13-25 as a starter), was traded to Carolina where he again struggled to establish himself, initially losing his job in 2022 to Mayfield, who had been acquired in a trade with Cleveland. After suffering an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve, Darnold regained the job from Mayfield later in the season before both were traded to make room for No. 1 pick Bryce Young.

But last year, Darnold found his footing with the Minnesota Vikings, throwing 35 touchdowns, posting a quarterback rating of 102.5 and leading the team to a 14-3 record. Unhappy with a new contract offer from the club, which was turning its fortunes to newcomer J.J. McCarthy, Darnold signed instead with Seattle in 2025 and has never looked back.

Though the Seahawks’ receiving arsenal no longer includes DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Darnold has at his disposal talented third-year pass-catcher Jaxon Smith-Njigba, currently second in the NFL with 402 receiving yards and 15.5 yards per catch;. Running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet each contribute effectively to the passing game in offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme.

"He's very sharp and very organized," said Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said of Kubiak. "He's one of the few coaches that can use every personnel grouping and do the same thing, and he can put you out on an island and put you in a bind. (He has a) very sharp mind, understands how to call a game. … He knows how to use his pieces. He's a very bright coach."

Seattle’s defense under second-year head coach Mike Macdonald is no picnic for opponents, either. McDonald helped shape the aggressive Baltimore Ravens defense and has brought the same approach to Seattle, which ranks second in the NFL in points allowed, third in yards allowed per play and third in interception percentage. The unit has already amassed 12 sacks and seven interceptions.

"Yeah, it’s definitely something when we put on the tape each week on how do we handle some of their game-wreckers from a defensive standpoint?” said Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard. “Then, you look at other things that they do really well, and that is (forcing turnovers), and how we have to be great with our decision-making. … They do a really good job with it, and the D-line does a really good job of getting a pass rush, as well. So, we’ve got to be on top of that for sure."

Offensively, the Bucs are without top receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) and  starting tailback Bucky Irving (possibly out for two weeks with a foot injury). And their defensive line has been hit by the injury bug as well, losing end Calijah Kancey for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Greg Gaines, his replacement, is also dealing with a pectoral injury but should still play Sunday. The anchor of the unit, nose tackle Vita Vea, sacked Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts twice last week and will try to keep the pressure on Darnold Sunday – with the D-line’s pair of Elijahs, rookies Roberts and Simmons, could also be called upon. 

“Both are doing a good job,” said Edwards. “We thought seeing [Elijah Roberts] come in, he would play the pass very [well] … but he has done a good job in the run game. … (Elijah Simmons), … is a very explosive guy inside, as you saw last week coming off the ball, really wreaking havoc in the backfield. We are excited to see that out of him and look forward to keep working with him as we continue to go forward."

With injuries to cornerbacks Jamel Dean (hip) and Benjamin Morrison (hamstring), the Bucs will rely on Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish to combat the high-powered Seahawk passing attack, along with safeties Antoine Winfield and Christian Izien.

"It is definitely tough,” added Edwards. “At the end of the day, right now you are trying to get the best 11 out there to be able to handle situations that they are going to put you in from an offensive perspective.”

Both teams will share the same look in one sense – they’ll each don the style of uniforms they sported in 1976 when they began play as NFL expansion teams. For the record, the Seahawks won the very first meeting of the two teams on Oct. 17, 1976 – 13-10, a game marred by 35 penalties for 310 yards, each an NFL record at the time. They’ve come a long way since then – with Seattle holding a lifetime series mark of 9-6, while the Bucs have won two Super Bowls and the Seahawks one.

And now comes the latest meeting between two essentially evenly matched teams – and a pair of quarterbacks with careers that could be mirror images.