Who Should I Start? Sam Darnold or Fernando Mendoza

Thursday, June 25, 4:49 PM

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory in his first year with the team in 2025, but after a mediocre performance in the Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots, the veteran signal-caller knows he has plenty to work on going into his ninth year in the NFL. Darnold didn't turn the ball over in the postseason, but he had 20 regular-season turnovers (14 interceptions and six fumbles lost). "I think the biggest thing is continuing to build off of my weaknesses, understanding what I wasn't great at this past year, which I think for me is continuing to hone in on the deep ball, understand how I can be better that way, quieting my feet in the pocket," Darnold said. The former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018 out of USC threw for 4,048 yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 picks during 17 regular-season starts to finish as the QB13 in fantasy. The 29-year-old has one of the best receivers in the game in Jaxon Smith-Njigba at his disposal, but the Seahawks will be relying on rookie running back Jadarian Price after letting Kenneth Walker III walk in free agency. His QB13 finish in 2025 might be his ceiling when considering the lack of depth on Seattle's offense and the fact that the offense will be run by a first-time play-caller in Brian Fleury.