The vibe around the VMAC in Renton is... different. For years, we all got used to the "Geno Smith Era"—that surprising, heartwarming stretch where a veteran finally got his due. But honestly? Everything changed the second John Schneider pulled the trigger on that massive three-year, $100.5 million deal for Sam Darnold.
It felt like a fever dream for some fans. Sam Darnold? The guy from the "seeing ghosts" meme?
Fast forward to January 2026, and nobody is laughing anymore. After a Pro Bowl season and leading the Hawks deep into the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks QB depth chart looks more stable—and yet more explosive—than it has in a decade.
The Starter: Sam Darnold’s Career Resurrection
If you told a Jets fan five years ago that Sam Darnold would be the face of a Super Bowl contender in Seattle, they’d probably ask what you were smoking. But here we are. Darnold isn't just "managing" games; he's dominating them under Klint Kubiak’s system.
The connection between Darnold and Kubiak is basically the secret sauce here. They spent time together in San Francisco, and you can see that influence every time Sam checks out of a bad play. He finished the 2025 regular season with 35 touchdowns and over 4,300 yards. That's not a fluke. It’s the result of having a real offensive line—shoutout to Grey Zabel and Charles Cross—and a receiving corps that now includes Cooper Kupp alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
When you look at the Seattle Seahawks QB depth chart, the number one spot is locked down with a deadbolt. Darnold has shown a level of maturity that was nowhere to be found in New York or Carolina. He’s tough. He’s mobile. Most importantly, he’s stopped throwing those back-breaking picks that used to define his game.
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The Backup: Why Drew Lock Is Still Here
This is where it gets interesting. While the team moved on from Geno Smith (who is now out in Vegas with the Raiders), they decided to bring back Drew Lock as the primary insurance policy.
Lock is sort of the ultimate "break glass in case of emergency" guy. He knows the building. He knows the locker room. More importantly, he’s actually comfortable being the second man up. There was some talk about whether he’d want to go compete for a starting job elsewhere, but the Seahawks made it worth his while to stay.
In Kubiak’s offense, you need a guy who can rip it. Lock has never lacked arm talent. If Darnold has to miss a series or a game, the offense doesn't have to change its identity. You’re still going to see deep shots to Rashid Shaheed and JSN. Lock’s presence gives the coaching staff a lot of peace of mind, especially since he’s shown he can win a game in a pinch—remember that Eagles game a couple of years back? The 12s certainly do.
The Wildcard: Jalen Milroe and the Future
If the top of the Seattle Seahawks QB depth chart is about winning now, the bottom of it is about the "what if."
The Seahawks used the 92nd overall pick in the 2025 draft (the one they got for trading Geno) to snag Jalen Milroe out of Alabama. This move was pure John Schneider. It’s almost a carbon copy of the Russell Wilson pick in 2012—signing a high-priced free agent and then drafting a dynamic, dual-threat project in the third round.
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Milroe is a physical freak. Let’s be real. He runs a 4.4 forty and has a literal cannon for an arm. But he’s raw. Like, really raw. Mike Macdonald has been pretty vocal about the fact that Milroe is a "quarterback through and through," even if some people wanted to see him in a Taysom Hill role.
Right now, Milroe is the QB3. He’s the developmental project sitting in the back of the room, taking notes, and occasionally wrecking the scout team defense with his legs. The plan is simple: let him sit behind Darnold for a few years and see if he can solve his accuracy issues. If he does? Look out.
What Happened to Sam Howell?
A lot of people are asking: "Wait, didn't they trade for Sam Howell?"
Yeah, they did. And then they traded him again.
Basically, the room got too crowded. Once the Seahawks realized they could get Milroe in the draft and keep Lock as a cheap veteran backup, Howell became the odd man out. Schneider flipped him to the Minnesota Vikings in April 2025 for a fifth-round pick. It was a classic "buy low, sell slightly higher" move that allowed Seattle to recoup some value while clearing the way for the Milroe experiment.
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It’s a bit of a bummer for Howell fans, but that’s the business. You can’t carry four quarterbacks who all think they should be playing.
Why This Depth Chart Actually Works
It’s all about balance.
- Darnold provides the elite production and veteran leadership.
- Lock provides the stability and system knowledge.
- Milroe provides the "ceiling" and the future.
Most teams are lucky to have one of those things. Seattle has all three. This isn't just about 2026; it's about making sure the franchise doesn't fall off a cliff if a single injury happens.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're keeping an eye on how this group evolves, here’s what to watch:
- Monitor the Salary Cap: Darnold’s cap hit jumps in 2027. If Milroe looks like a superstar in training camp, the Seahawks might have a very difficult (but good) decision to make regarding Darnold's long-term future.
- Watch the Preseason Snaps: In 2026, expect Milroe to get 90% of the preseason reps. That is where you will see if his footwork is actually improving or if he's still relying purely on his athleticism.
- Follow the Practice Squad: Keep an eye on who the Seahawks sign as a "camp arm." They usually like to have a fourth guy for the summer to eat up reps, and that person often ends up on the practice squad as a "phantom" QB4.
The days of worrying about who’s under center in Seattle seem to be over for now. Whether it’s Sam’s resurgence or Jalen’s potential, the quarterback room at Lumen Field is as exciting as it’s been in a long time.