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March 10, 2025

Sam Darnold, Justin Fields agree to deals

Four starting QB jobs are still remainin

The quarterback seats are getting gobbled up. The Seahawks have agreed to a deal with Sam Darnold, while the Jets will sign Justin Fields.

Per NFL.com, Darnold will sign a three-year deal worth $100.5 million. The New York Times says he’ll be getting $10 million more than that. Fields will sign for $40 million for two years, confirming that he still needs to show teams that he can develop into a viable starter.

As I mentioned previously, I like the fit of Darnold with Klint Kubiak. When Kubiak was the offensive coordinator in New Orleans last year, he used a lot of deep balls off play action, with Derek Carr hitting on a surprising number of long passes to Rashid Shaheed and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Darnold was an excellent long-ball thrower in Minnesota last year.

I would like that deep ball potential more if the Seahawks still had DK Metcalf. And Darnold no doubt was helped along last year by working with Kevin O’Connell, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.

With these two deals falling into place, there aren’t a lot of quarterback jobs left. The Steelers, Browns, Titans and Giants are the four major shoppers left. The Colts and Vikings are a step back, looking to add second options to go along with Anthony Richardson and J.J. McCarthy. (If the Titans like Will Levis a lot more than I think they do, they would also move into that second group.)

Available remaining quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers (who’s looking like Pittsburgh’s guy), Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins (by trade or after he's released) and a host of lesser options, including Daniel Jones, Jameis Winston, Mac Jones, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco and others. There are two notable quarterbacks in the draft: Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders.

Often times with free agent signings, I wonder if teams are influenced by how players performed against them. With today’s quarterbacks, Darnold threw for 246 yards and 3 TDs in a win at Seattle in December, with a late 39-yard touchdown to win it.

Aaron Glenn is now coaching the Jets, and when Glenn was the defensive coordinator in Detroit, Fields gave him fits, running for 100-plus yards in three straight games at one point. Fields is the only quarterback in league history to run for 100-plus yards in three games against the same opponent.

I don’t think Fields will ever get there as a passer, but he’s one of the top half-dozen runners at the position.

In the 32-team era, there have been 11 games featuring a quarterback who ran for more than 130 yards. Fields has three of those games.

With the list of 100-yard games by quarterbacks in front of me, I see that Fields lost all five of his. Two quarterbacks have more 100-yard games than Fields, and both were better able to translate those runs into wins. Lamar Jackson has gone 11-3 as a 100-yard runner, while Michael Vick went 8-2.

QUARTERBACKS: 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES
YearPlayerOppResultAttYardsAvgTD
2022Justin Fields, Chi.Mia.L, 32-351517811.91
2002Michael Vick, Atl.at Min.W, 30-241017317.32
2006Michael Vick, Atl.N.O.L, 13-311216613.80
2022Jalen Hurts, Phil.G.B.W, 40-33171579.20
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.Cin.W, 23-17191528.01
2014Colin Kaepernick, S.F.S.D.L, 35-38715121.61
2022Justin Fields, Chi.Det.L, 30-311314711.32
2003Michael Vick, Atl.Car.W, 20-141414110.11
2012Robert Griffin, Was.Min.W, 38-261313810.62
2018Josh Allen, Buff.at Mia.L, 17-21913515.00
2023Justin Fields, Chi.at Det.L, 10-411013213.20
2010Michael Vick, Phil.at NYGW, 38-311013013.01
2024Jayden Daniels, Was.Atl.W, 30-24161277.90
2006Michael Vick, Atl.T.B.W, 14-3141279.11
2020Lamar Jackson, Balt.at Cle.W, 47-42912413.82
2024Lamar Jackson, Balt.at K.C.L, 20-27161227.60
2014Russell Wilson, Sea.at Was.W, 27-171112211.11
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.Ari.W, 23-17161207.50
2021Lamar Jackson, Balt.Min.W, 34-31211205.70
2022Lamar Jackson, Balt.Mia.L, 38-42911913.21
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.Cin.W, 24-21261194.60
2011Tim Tebow, Den.at Oak.W, 38-24131189.10
2012Cam Newton, Car.Atl.W, 30-20911612.91
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.at Sea.W, 30-16141168.31
2004Michael Vick, Atl.at Den.W, 41-28121159.60
2016Colin Kaepernick, S.F.at Mia.L, 24-311011311.30
2013Terrelle Pryor, Oak.at Ind.L, 17-21131128.60
2015Marcus Mariota, Ten.Jac.W, 42-39911212.41
2022Taysom Hill, N.O.Sea.W, 39-32911212.43
2011Joe Webb, Min.at Det.L, 28-34710915.61
2021Josh Allen, Buff.at T.B.L, 27-33121099.11
2004Michael Vick, Atl.St.L.W, 34-17121099.10
2015Johnny Manziel, Cle.at K.C.L, 13-17111089.80
2020Lamar Jackson, Balt.at Phil.W, 30-28910812.01
2014Cam Newton, Car.at Cin.T, 37-37171076.31
2022Daniel Jones, NYGat Jac.W, 23-17111079.71
2002Donovan McNabb, Phil.NYGW, 17-3810713.41
2021Lamar Jackson, Balt.K.C.W, 36-35161076.72
2022Lamar Jackson, Balt.at N.E.W, 37-26111079.71
2014Russell Wilson, Sea.NYGW, 38-17141077.61
2020Kyler Murray, Ari.Mia.L, 31-34111069.61
2014Russell Wilson, Sea.at St.L.L, 26-28710615.11
2020Jalen Hurts, Phil.N.O.W, 24-21181065.90
2013Terrelle Pryor, Oak.Pitt.W, 21-18910611.81
2023Justin Fields, Chi.at Det.L, 26-31181045.80
2016Kevin Hogan, Cle.at Cin.L, 17-31710414.91
2004Michael Vick, Atl.at NYGW, 14-10151046.90
2021Justin Fields, Chi.S.F.L, 22-331010310.31
2010Michael Vick, Phil.G.B.L, 20-27111039.40
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.at Cle.W, 31-15171036.10
2013Russell Wilson, Sea.at Ind.L, 28-34131027.80
2018Josh Allen, Buff.NYJL, 23-27910111.21
2023Lamar Jackson, Balt.Ind.L, 19-22141017.22
2021Taysom Hill, N.O.Dall.L, 17-27111019.20
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.S.F.W, 20-17161016.31
2006Michael Vick, Atl.Ari.W, 32-10111019.20
2002Donovan McNabb, Phil.at Jac.L, 25-28121008.31
2022Kyler Murray, Ari.at Sea.L, 9-191010010.00
2015Cam Newton, Car.at NYGW, 38-35810012.50

—Ian Allan

Justin Fields Sam Darnold Aaron Rodgers
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