Coaches, Execs, Scouts rank QBs: Darnold 11th

[Rat]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49315416/ranking-nfl-top-10-quarterbacks-2026-execs-coaches-scouts

Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks: "What a career bounce back. He's been lights-out for two years. Deserves to be in the top 10." -- High-ranking AFC team official

"Playing to his strengths while playing disciplined, can beat you with his arm. I think he can use his legs more. He's mobile." -- NFL personnel evaluator

That's probably fair. I sure wouldn't have Maye, Goff, or Williams above him, but Purdy, Willis, and Daniels should be, so I guess it's a wash.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Meh, another "list"
Season can't get here soon enough. He's top 10, and he's a SB Champion. Mahomes and Stafford are the only other ones above him with a ring. 11 isn't horrible, just not accurate.

 

[Rat]

Meh, another "list"
Season can't get here soon enough. He's top 10, and he's a SB Champion. Mahomes and Stafford are the only other ones above him with a ring. 11 isn't horrible, just not accurate.

Ok, but this isn't a Prisco list, it's a survey of people with important league jobs, paid millions to evaluate talent. Seahawks coaches are likely among those reflected in the rankings.

If you don't care, are you aware you don't HAVE to comment on it?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well, I did comment on it. This is a message board. And I didn't say I don't care. Geezus man, are we gonna' start doing this crap again? 11 seems low, but it's not horrible vs. some lists we have seen.

 

[Ozzy]

I remember when the league had Geno 20-22 but a Seahawks film guy had him 7th and the zealots went nuts on here on why the league was wrong and they didn't know ball.

I think based on the first part of the year that's fair for Darnold but I also think after this upcoming year he's going to move up the list quite a bit. I saw a graphic showing Mahomes and Darnold's stats the past 2 years and Darnold beats him across the board.

 

[Jac]

I think this is the most fair I've seen. There's even a quote in there from a high-ranking AFC official that he's top-10. I also agree that Justin Herbert (#7 on that list) is at an inflection point. That 5000-yard sophomore season was 5 years ago. He's not really elevated his game since. I didn't realize he's only 9 months younger than Darnold.

 

[Trackhawk]

Here's where it gets interesting. Four quarterbacks -- Williams, Seattle's Sam Darnold, Green Bay's Jordan Love and Washington's Jayden Daniels -- were very close in voting for the 10th spot. So we took it to tiebreakers, gathering input from several general managers and executives. Why did Williams barely win out for the final spot on the list? He's the hardest of the four for teams to prepare for and defend.

I would probably move Darnold up to 8th or so, and have Drake May below him. Similar years last season, but Darnold did it against a much tougher lineup of defenses, and took the head to head win.

Herbert at 7 seems like a nod to the past, rather than an indication of where he is currently. Swap Darnold and Herbert on the list, and I think it's about right.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Imagine if Bucky Brooks made this list. He would have him at 32

 

[HOF Hater]

11 is a fair spot for Darnold

 

[jammerhawk]

I think it's too low.

Darnold has been the QB in 28 regular season winning games in the past two seasons. Besides that he won a SB.

My thoughts are he's more likely 7th to 8th.

We really shouldn't' care that much about this type of ranking as the only really important ranking is how the player plays when the bullets start flying.

 

[MORGULON]

Imagine if Bucky Brooks made this list. He would have him at 32

Cowherd isn't impressed either.

Now I know Sam is a top 10 QB.

 

[flv2]

11-14 sounds about right. After the top 7 there's not much between the other QBs in the top 16. Darnold has proven himself with back-to-back quality seasons. That counts for something over QBs that haven't achieved that.

 

[Rat]

Obviously nice to see your guys near the top of these lists, but I like being in that sweet spot of having a very good QB that doesn't command the cap hold of the elite guys.

Not that having an elite QB is secretly a curse, but those teams have so little margin of error. The guy slips at all and you're done.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Well said. Let Sam have another great year, and he'll get that bag. As he should. In the meantime, he's great for THIS team, even if he's in that 10-12 range. Nothing wrong with that. A lot of these lists are laughable. But 11 isn't a slap in the face at all, still pretty damn good.

 

[Seahawkfan80]

I feel 11 is fine. I think they looked at the whole season and the game with 4 interceptions that dropped him a notch. Yes, they disguised their defense a bit to attain them 4 interceptions and the learning curve worked. But that is what I think dropped him a bit. Go Hawks.