Darnold!

[FrodosFinger]

My neighbor said he thinks Darnold is better than Stafford. I thought he was joking. I mean I love that Darnold is our quarterback but he is nowhere near Stafford’s talent level

 

[glenwo2]

My neighbor said he thinks Darnold is better than Stafford. I thought he was joking. I mean I love that Darnold is our quarterback but he is nowhere near Stafford’s talent level

Don't know about Talent-level but if you think about it, it took Stafford over 13 seasons before winning his first playoff game and the SuperBowl.

He was on the Lions who had Megatron and then on the Rams.

For Darnold, it took him just 8 seasons (and a bunch of teams with varying levels of talent from the bottom of a barrel to the cream of the crop) to win his first and the SuperBowl.

Sam only had (prior to this year) a Top-tier Receiver to throw to (Jefferson) as a Starting QB and it was for 1 season.

What I'm trying to say here is that Stafford was in a better situation (at least offensively) when he was able to chuck it downfield to Megatron while Darnold for all but 1 season (prior to last season's SB run) never had that luxury.

There's no denying his talent but let's face it : It's far easier to look good when all you have to do just throw a jump-ball to a massive receiver that always gets it when he's surrounded by 3 defenders.

 

[Scout]

Stafford put up a lot of impressive stats but he was accused of stat padding which is why winning important games tends to skew how people view QBs. Darnold has done this at an accelerated pace and still is growing as a player because he is still navigating areas of his game.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

Darnold isn't better than either 2025 Stafford or the ceiling of CJ Stroud, but he doesn't have to be on this team.

I'm more than content to watch him manage the offense, run some field goal drives at the end of games, and occasionally pull out an epic pass-first win such as last year's NFC championship. He doesn't need to be Brady.

 

[uscfan]

Darnold isn't better than either 2025 Stafford or the ceiling of CJ Stroud, but he doesn't have to be on this team.

Darnold isn't better than either 2025 Stafford or the ceiling of CJ Stroud, but he doesn't have to be on this team.

I'm more than content to watch him manage the offense, run some field goal drives at the end of games, and occasionally pull out an epic pass-first win such as last year's NFC championship. He doesn't need to be Brady.

I strongly disagree with your comment that Darnold "isn't better than.......the ceiling of CJ Stroud". Hell, that was the point of my post - I think that is ridiculous.

Stroud lacks Sam's size, and he will never be the pure passer that Sam is. IMO, the only advantages that Stroud has over Darnold are his abilities to escape and run. However, as Sam demonstrated repeatedly in the super bowl, he is far more elusive and athletic than most realize. Plus, Darnold excels at throwing on the run (even to his left, where many right-handed quarterbacks struggle).

Now if your comment was that Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams have higher ceilings, I would have no beef.

 

[Jac]

Don't know about Talent-level but if you think about it, it took Stafford over 13 seasons before winning his first playoff game and the SuperBowl.

He was on the Lions who had Megatron and then on the Rams.

For Darnold, it took him just 8 seasons (and a bunch of teams with varying levels of talent from the bottom of a barrel to the cream of the crop) to win his first and the SuperBowl.

Sam only had (prior to this year) a Top-tier Receiver to throw to (Jefferson) as a Starting QB and it was for 1 season.

What I'm trying to say here is that Stafford was in a better situation (at least offensively) when he was able to chuck it downfield to Megatron while Darnold for all but 1 season (prior to last season's SB run) never had that luxury.

There's no denying his talent but let's face it : It's far easier to look good when all you have to do just throw a jump-ball to a massive receiver that always gets it when he's surrounded by 3 defenders.

Darnold is also going into this season completely unburdened. He beat the Rams in the playoffs, he dealt with the pressure of the Super Bowl, he didn't commit a single turnover in the playoffs. His self confidence has to be soaring (and/or repaired). Whatever game situation he faces in the future, he knows that he's done it before. There are now starting QBs littered throughout the league who have to overcome their own demons, and Darnold isn't one of them.

 

[glenwo2]

Stafford put up a lot of impressive stats but he was accused of stat padding which is why winning important games tends to skew how people view QBs. Darnold has done this at an accelerated pace and still is growing as a player because he is still navigating areas of his game.

Yep.

Stafford's Playoff Career record : 7-6 (and one SuperBowl Title)

Darnold's Playoff Career record : 3-1 (and one SuperBowl Title)

 

[glenwo2]

Darnold is also going into this season completely unburdened. He beat the Rams in the playoffs, he dealt with the pressure of the Super Bowl, he didn't commit a single turnover in the playoffs. His self confidence has to be soaring (and/or repaired). Whatever game situation he faces in the future, he knows that he's done it before. There are now starting QBs littered throughout the league who have to overcome their own demons, and Darnold isn't one of them.

Also, he conquered the Patriots even when he was a bit off-target in the SuperBowl.

It was a "career come full-circle" moment for Sam here.

 

[FrodosFinger]

He doesn't need to be Brady

Exactly. Continue to stack around him. He’s a high quality quarterback

 

[gmor]

Darnold isn't better than either 2025 Stafford or the ceiling of CJ Stroud, but he doesn't have to be on this team.

I'm more than content to watch him manage the offense, run some field goal drives at the end of games, and occasionally pull out an epic pass-first win such as last year's NFC championship. He doesn't need to be Brady.

I would take Darnold over both of them.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Stafford is a beast. Rams or not, no shade from me. He is perfect for HIS team.
Just like Sam is perfect for OURS.

 

[glenwo2]

The 3rd pass (against the Rams) was my favorite as it was such a critical throw to Kupp in OT to get the Hawks in position for the JSN TD and Eric Saubert 2-pter.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yeah, but can he win TWO Super Bowls?

 

[sutz]

Yeah, but can he win TWO Super Bowls?

I know he can. Will he? Who knows?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

It's gonna' happen

 

[Seahawker]

Like many of you, I have quickly become a huge Sam Darnold fan in a way that has a great feel to it.
Even with his turnovers last season, he just brings a confidence to the offense I never felt with Geno, nor RW in his later years with us.
Sam has been an unexpected gift and I hope he can fine tune his game to an even higher level.
We are so lucky.

As a kid, before the Seahawks I was a huge Walt Garrison fan and Sam's Grandad being the Marlboro Man brings a smile to my face.

 

[glenwo2]

Yeah, but can he win TWO Super Bowls?

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Salk.......don't get me started.

 

[glenwo2]

Salk.......don't get me started.

'Cause I damn well picture that assclown saying exactly that question.

And Brock Huard laughing while being red as a tomato next to him (looking like he's sloshed).

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Yep. I want the media to doubt him all season. Made it more fun last year.