The Seattle Seahawks lost on Monday Night Football to the Chicago Bears 34-17, raising more questions about Sam Darnold's future with the franchise.
In the loss, quarterback Darnold went 17-for-34 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
There was also a second interception thrown in the red zone that was negated by a penalty that did not impact the actual throw or play on the ball.
It was the latest in a string of poor games for Darnold this season, and with Seattle sitting at 4-4, the Seahawks may need to start thinking about their quarterback future. Could the 2027 NFL Draft provide an answer?
Sam Darnold's disappointing season raises questions
Coming off of a Super Bowl victory, this has not been the year for Darnold.
After sustaining a hip injury early in the first game of the season and missing Week 2, Darnold has played in six games.
In those six games, Darnold has thrown for over 300 yards just once, and under 200 yards three times. He has thrown multiple interceptions and had more interceptions than touchdowns in three games, and he's been sacked 17 times.
Darnold had a clean game in the Week 7 win against the Chiefs, but that game was dominated by Seattle's defense, holding the Kansas City offense to just three points.
But in the two prime-time games against the Bears and Broncos, when the game has been in his hands, the nine-year pro has come up short, leading Seahawks fans to potentially run back to the fan blogs and chat rooms looking for their next Bo Callahan.
Could the Seahawks move on from Sam Darnold in 2027?
When Sam Darnold signed with the Seahawks in 2025, the contract was framed as a mid-tier agreement that Seattle could get out of after year two. But winning the Super Bowl in year one made it seem like the best-value contract in the NFL.
However, now that Seattle is struggling with a 4-4 record amid Darnold's woes, it's worth revisiting.
The Seahawks can save nearly $26 million on the cap in 2027 if they release Darnold. They'll incur a little bit of dead money in each of the next three seasons, but nothing a team can't handle these days.
Even if Seattle chooses not to cut Darnold, the writing may be on the wall that his current contract could be his last. That opens up the possibility of the Seahawks selecting his heir apparent in the 2027 NFL Draft, even if Darnold remains the starter for another season.
Seattle wouldn't necessarily need to make an immediate change at quarterback. Drafting someone with upside who needs time to develop could allow the Seahawks to prepare for the future without giving up on Darnold just yet.
LaNorris Sellers could be an intriguing 2027 NFL Draft option
A name that is rising back up the draft boards is South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers. Sellers's blend of athleticism and arm talent has been tantalizing evaluators for years. But would he be the best option?
Sellers needs more development. He's still not a very accurate passer, and his decision-making is questionable at times. But the baseline traits and displays of grit and desire he's shown at South Carolina are very enticing.
Another point in the Sellers column is the team's drafting of Jalen Milroe in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Milroe had a scouting report similar to Sellers's. A big arm, elite mobility, and excellent football toughness, but if he were ever going to be a quarterback in the NFL, he would need work.
The Seahawks showed enough interest in Milroe to draft him; it stands to reason that Sellers would be on their board for the same reasons they took the former Alabama quarterback.
But with Milroe already on the roster, would Seattle invest another draft pick in a similar quarterback? That could depend on Milroe's development and whether the Seahawks believe Sellers offers more long-term upside. If Seattle isn't convinced Milroe is the answer, taking another swing at quarterback could make sense.
With the questions around this quarterback class of who is and isn't a first-round talent, and who is and isn't returning to school, there could be a lane for Sellers to enter the draft and be selected by a good team where he can learn and develop.
That could be a more ideal scenario for Sellers than being taken in the top five and playing in a worse situation.
If Seattle gets to the end of this season and is disappointed in the outcome, it might be smart for them to make the pivot, or at least start the turn, from Sam Darnold toward a quarterback taken in the 2027 class.
Whether that quarterback is Sellers or another prospect, the Seahawks have already shown they're willing to invest in developing a quarterback behind an established starter. The question now is whether Darnold's struggles will push them to make that investment again sooner than expected.
Add us as a preferred source on Google