Sam Darnold

Seattle Seahawks, Quarterback

Age: 28y-9m-1d (Jun 05, 1997)

Exp: 8 Years

Country: US

College: Southern California

Drafted: Round 1 (#3 overall), 2018

Agent(s): Jimmy Sexton, RJ Gonser, Jim Denton (CAA Football)

2026 Cap Hit

$37,900,000

2026 Cash

$27,500,000

Career Earnings

$106,753,948

2025-2027 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Sam Darnold signed a 3 year, $100,500,000 contract with the Seattle Seahawks, including $32,000,000 signing bonus, $55,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $33,500,000. In 2026, Darnold will earn a base salary of $12,300,000, a roster bonus of $15,000,000 and a workout bonus of $200,000, while carrying a cap hit of $37,900,000 and a dead cap value of $43,100,000.

Contract Terms:

3 yr(s) / $100,500,000

Average Salary:

$33,500,000

Signing Bonus:

$32,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$37,500,000

Total GTD:

$55,000,000

Free Agent:

2028 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2025	28		$13,400,000	4.80%	$41,500,000	$41,500,000	$37,500,000
2026	29		$37,900,000	12.49%	$27,500,000	$69,000,000	$43,100,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2027, 2 YR, $69,000,000; $19,200,000 DEAD CAP
2027	30		$41,900,000	13.15%	$35,500,000	$104,500,000	$19,200,000
2028	31	Void UFA	$12,800,000	3.83%	-	$104,500,000	$12,800,000
2029		Void	$6,400,000	1.76%	-	$104,500,000	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Proration	Roster Bonus	Workout Bonus	Incentives Likely	Cap Hit	Cap % League	Dead Cap
2025	28		$5,300,000	$6,400,000	-	$200,000	$1,500,000	$13,400,000	4.80%	$37,500,000
2026	29		$12,300,000	$6,400,000	$15,000,000	$200,000	$4,000,000	$37,900,000	12.49%	$43,100,000	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $43,100,000 2026 Savings: $-5,200,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $25,600,000 2026 Savings: $12,300,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2026 Dead Cap: $23,900,000 2027 Dead Cap: $19,200,000 2026 Savings: $14,000,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $23,900,000 2027 Dead Cap: $19,200,000 2026 Savings: $14,000,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $6,400,000 2027 Dead Cap: $19,200,000 2026 Savings: $31,500,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
POTENTIAL OUT: 2027, 2 YR, $69,000,000; $19,200,000 DEAD CAP
2027	30		$25,300,000	$6,400,000	$10,000,000	$200,000	-	$41,900,000	13.15%	$19,200,000	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $19,200,000 2027 Savings: $22,700,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $19,200,000 2027 Savings: $22,700,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2027 Dead Cap: $6,400,000 2028 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2027 Savings: $35,500,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $6,400,000 2028 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2027 Savings: $35,500,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $6,400,000 2028 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2027 Savings: $35,500,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2028	31	Void UFA	-	$6,400,000	-	-	-	$12,800,000	3.83%	$12,800,000	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2028 Savings: $0 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2028 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2028 Savings: $12,800,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2028 Savings: $12,800,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $12,800,000 2028 Savings: $12,800,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2029		Void	-	$6,400,000	-	-	-	$6,400,000	1.76%	-	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $6,400,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $6,400,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $6,400,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $6,400,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $6,400,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Bonus	Roster Bonus	Workout Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Cash Remaining
2025	28		$5,300,000	$32,000,000	-	$200,000	$41,500,000	$41,500,000	$104,500,000
2026	29		$12,300,000	-	$15,000,000	$200,000	$27,500,000	$69,000,000	$63,000,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2027, 2 YR, $69,000,000; $19,200,000 DEAD CAP
2027	30		$25,300,000	-	$10,000,000	$200,000	$35,500,000	$104,500,000	$35,500,000
2028	31	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$104,500,000	-
2029	32	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$104,500,000	-

Contract Notes

$37.5M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2025 salary/bonus)
2026 Roster Bonus: $15M (guarantees the 5th waiver period day of 2026)
$2.5M of of 2026 salary guarantees the 5th waiver period day of 2026
2027 Roster Bonus: $10M (5th league day of 2027)
2028-29 years automatically void 23 days before the 2028 league year
Annual Performance Incentives (cumulative)
100 Passer Rating: $500,000
28 TD Passes: $500,000
4,000 Passing Yards: $500,000
67.5% Completion: $500,000
Annual Playing Time Incentive
70% Snaps + team is Top 10 in Net Offensive Yards: $500,000
Annual Playoff Incentives (non-cumulative)
(Requires 70% Regular Season Snaps)
Playoff Berth: $500,000
Divisional Win: $1M
Conf. Champ Win: $1.5M
Super Bowl Win: $2.5M

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2024-2024 Free Agent

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $10,000,000

Average Salary:

$10,000,000

Signing Bonus:

$6,250,000

GTD at Sign:

$8,750,000

Total GTD:

$8,750,000

Free Agent:

2025 / UFA

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2023-2023 Free Agent

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $4,500,000

Average Salary:

$4,500,000

Signing Bonus:

$1,500,000

GTD at Sign:

$3,500,000

Total GTD:

$3,500,000

Free Agent:

2024 / UFA

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2018-2022 Rookie

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $30,247,715

Average Salary:

$7,561,929

Signing Bonus:

$20,078,338

GTD at Sign:

$30,247,715

Total GTD:

$30,247,715

Free Agent:

2023 / UFA

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Seasons

8 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$106,753,948

Earnings w/ Different Teams

5 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Awards
2018	21	Active	$20,558,338	$20,558,338
2019	22	Active	$1,854,895	$22,413,233
2020	23	Active	$3,319,790	$25,733,023
2021	24	Active	$4,774,685	$30,507,708
2022	25	Active / Club Exercised	$18,858,000	$49,365,708
2023	26	Active	$5,888,240	$55,253,948
2024	27	Active	$10,000,000	$65,253,948	Nfc Pro Bowl:QB
2025	28	Active	$41,500,000	$106,753,948	Nfc Pro Bowl:QB
Total			$106,753,948	$106,753,948
2026	29	Active	$27,500,000
2027	30	Active	$35,500,000
Total			$169,753,948

Earnings Per Team

Years	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
3	$1,800,000	$20,078,338	$3,854,685	-	-	-	$25,733,023
2	$19,778,000	-	$3,854,685	-	-	-	$23,632,685
1	$1,900,000	$1,500,000	-	-	$100,000	$1,800,000	$5,888,240
1	$2,500,000	$6,250,000	-	-	$250,000	-	$10,000,000
1	$5,300,000	$32,000,000	-	-	$200,000	$4,000,000	$41,500,000

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Restructure	Workout	Incentives	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2018	21	$480,000	$20,078,338				$20,558,338	$20,558,338
2019	22	$570,000		$1,284,895			$1,854,895	$22,413,233
2020	23	$750,000		$2,569,790			$3,319,790	$25,733,023
2021	24	$920,000		$3,854,685			$4,774,685	$30,507,708
2022	25	$18,858,000					$18,858,000	$49,365,708
2023	26	$1,900,000	$1,500,000		$100,000	$1,800,000	$5,888,240	$55,253,948
2024	27	$2,500,000	$6,250,000		$250,000		$10,000,000	$65,253,948
2025	28	$5,300,000	$32,000,000		$200,000	$4,000,000	$41,500,000	$106,753,948
Total		$31,278,000	$59,828,338	$7,709,370	$550,000	$5,800,000	$106,753,948	$106,753,948
2026	29	$12,300,000		$15,000,000	$200,000		$27,500,000
2027	30	$25,300,000		$10,000,000	$200,000		$35,500,000
Total		$68,878,000	$59,828,338	$32,709,370	$950,000	$5,800,000	$169,753,948

Earnings Per Team

Years	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
3	$1,800,000	$20,078,338	$3,854,685	-	-	-	$25,733,023
2	$19,778,000	-	$3,854,685	-	-	-	$23,632,685
1	$1,900,000	$1,500,000	-	-	$100,000	$1,800,000	$5,888,240
1	$2,500,000	$6,250,000	-	-	$250,000	-	$10,000,000
1	$5,300,000	$32,000,000	-	-	$200,000	$4,000,000	$41,500,000

Injuries

Year		Weeks	Reason
2022	CAR	1 - 9	Ankle
2021	CAR	10 - 15	Shoulder

Mar 10, 2025 Signed a 3 year $100.5 million contract with Seattle (SEA)
Mar 12, 2024 Signed a 1 year $10 million contract with Minnesota (MIN)
Mar 13, 2023 Signed a 1 year $4.5 million contract with San Francisco (SF)
Apr 30, 2021 Carolina (CAR) exercised an $18.8 million option for 2022
Apr 05, 2021 Traded to Carolina (CAR) from New York (NYJ) for 2022 2nd round pick (#38 - traded), 2022 4th round pick (#111 Max Mitchell) and 2021 6th round pick (#226 - traded)
Jul 30, 2018 Signed a 4 year $30.2 million contract with New York (NYJ)
Apr 26, 2018 Drafted by New York (NYJ): Round 1 (#3 overall)

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%	Pass Attempts	Pass Completions	Pass Completion %	Pass Yards	Pass Yards/Gm	Pass Touchdowns	Pass Interceptions	Pass Rating	Rush Attempts	Rush Yards	Rush Touchdowns	Fum
2025	SEA	17	17	1,026	98.75	477	323	67.7	4,048	238.1	25	14	99.11	35	95	0	11
2024	MIN	17	16	1,045	93.55	545	361	66.2	4,319	254.1	35	12	102.53	67	212	1	8
2023	SF	10	1	130	12.20	46	28	60.9	297	29.7	2	1	85.14	21	15	1	3
2022	CAR	6	6	377	37.11	140	82	58.6	1,143	190.5	7	3	92.65	26	106	2	6
2021	CAR	12	11	771	67.10	406	243	59.9	2,527	210.6	9	13	71.94	48	222	5	9
2020	NYJ	12	12	739	74.72	364	217	59.6	2,208	184.0	9	11	72.69	37	217	2	4
2019	NYJ	13	13	853	82.40	441	273	61.9	3,024	232.6	19	13	84.32	33	62	2	11
2018	NYJ	13	13	809	80.80	414	239	57.7	2,865	220.4	17	15	77.62	44	138	1	5

Calculated Market Value

$52.5M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

2 years, $104,958,906
Avg. Salary: $52,479,453
NFL Rank: 9
QB Rank: 9

Current Contract

Free Agent: 2028
Avg. Salary: $33,500,000
NFL Rank: 29
QB Rank: 19

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Sam Darnold to.

Player	Length	Value	Avg. Salary	Age When Signed
Justin Herbert	5	$262,500,000	$52,500,000	25
Joe Burrow	5	$275,000,000	$55,000,000	26
Tua Tagovailoa	4	$212,400,000	$53,100,000	26
Brock Purdy	5	$265,000,000	$53,000,000	25
Averages	5	$253,725,000	$53,400,000	25.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Darnold's current age (28), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length	Value	Avg. Salary
2	$107,561,904	$53,780,952

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Darnold statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, Pass Yds/Gm, Pass TD/Gm, Pass INT/Gm, Pass Comp%, Pass Rat, Rush Yds/Gm, Rating

Player	GP%	Snaps %	Pass Yds/Gm	Pass TD/Gm	Pass INT/Gm	Pass Comp%	Pass Rat	Rush Yds/Gm	Rating
Justin Herbert 2021-2022	100.00	98.57	286.85	1.85	0.74	67.05	95.41	13.21	84.35
Joe Burrow 2021-2022	96.97	95.22	283.94	2.16	0.81	69.35	104.52	11.72	91.20
Tua Tagovailoa 2022-2023	88.24	80.97	272.40	1.80	0.73	67.05	103.28	4.80	85.15
Brock Purdy 2023-2024	91.18	87.65	262.71	1.65	0.74	67.65	104.55	15.06	85.40
Average	94.10	90.60	276.48	1.87	0.76	67.78	101.94	11.20	86.53
Sam Darnold 2024-2025	100.00	96.15	246.09	1.76	0.76	66.95	100.82	9.03	81.00
Pct Change	6.27	6.13	-10.99	-5.88	0.00	-1.22	-1.10	-19.38	-6.39
Median Prime % Change									-1.22%
Average Prime % Change									-3.62%

Calculated Market Value: Sam Darnold

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms	Avg. Salary
2 years, $104,958,906	$52,479,453

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