RENTON, Wash. -- Klint Kubiak had joined Sam Darnold onstage at his introductory news conference last month when the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator pointed to his newly-signed quarterback as an example of how players at that position are sometimes written off too soon.
Drafted third overall in 2018, Darnold lasted only three seasons with the New York Jets before they traded him to the Carolina Panthers, who didn't re-sign him after two years and 17 starts. He backed up Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 before his Pro Bowl breakthrough last year with the Minnesota Vikings.