The decision to move on from Geno Smith and sign Sam Darnold has proved to be a masterstroke for the Seahawks.
The Seattle Seahawks, last offseason, decided not to play it safe and parted ways with Geno Smith and signed Sam Darnold.
Fresh off a 14-3 record with the Minnesota Vikings and that horror playoff loss that, for most, continues to define him as a player, Sam took his talents to Seattle.
Now, after yet another 14-3 regular season record, but this time, without the horrific playoff performances, Darnold is on the doorstep of doing something Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen haven't done.
And that's winning a Super Bowl.
Given how Darnold has helped transform Mike Macdonald's team in just one season, the decision to sign him last offseason looks like a master stroke.
And for CBS Sports' Joel Corry, in naming the best free agency awards for the 2025 season, Darnold has been named the NFL's "Most Valuable Acquisition."
“Darnold signed a team-friendly three-year, $100.5 million contract in free agency that averages $33.5 million per year and can reach $115.5 million through incentives,” Corry wrote. “A quick exit isn't a consideration for the Seahawks after they advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in 11 years.
"Darnold showed his 2024 Pro Bowl season wasn't just a product of Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell's offensive brilliance.”
You can make the case that Darnold has proved his doubters wrong this season.
Known to shrink in big spots, in back-to-back weeks, with the season on the line, Darnold has been superb.
In his two playoff games, Darnold has thrown for 470 yards, 4 TDs, and no interceptions, while having a completion percentage above 69 in both games (just 14 combined incompletions).
Oh, and he also had passer ratings of 110.9 (49ers) and 127.8 (Rams).
Is that good? It seems good.
Now, with four quarters separating Darnold and the Seahawks from Super Bowl glory, Sam's season is so close to being capped off in the best way possible.
Doubted at every turn, with Macdonald's defense behind him, along with key weapons Kenneth Walker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Darnold has a chance to make this one hell of a first season in Seattle.
Granted, the New England Patriots won't be pushovers, but neither will Darnold and the Seahawks.
Looking back on the free agency class of last season, it doesn't take a genius to see that the deal to get Darnold was easily the best signing of the bunch.
And I'm not sure it's even that close.