Should the Steelers be interested in Sam Darnold?
Sam Darnold lost in the same playoff round as the Steelers this year. Both met with disappointment, but could they be better together? Perhaps more simply, what are Sam Darnold’s Steelers’ best or worst options at quarterback? The team is ostensibly leaving no stone unturned this offseason to answer, including in free agency. I’m going to look for it.
Along with the Steelers’ Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Sam Darnold is the biggest name on the quarterback market. That market will eventually include Kirk Cousins and possibly Aaron Rodgers, but neither Cousins nor Rodgers looked particularly good last season.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin certainly loves bloodlines and isn’t afraid of reclamation projects. That’s partly because Justin Fields is a former No. 11 overall pick, but they didn’t add him as an immediate starter. If the Steelers were to sign Sam Darnold, it would be because he intends to start at least 17 games and a playoff appearance.
Darnold signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Vikings as a backup, and the Steelers signed Peanut and Wilson. Again, they both performed similarly, but that may just be because Darnold was playing in a tougher division. Even if they get a first-round bye and home-field advantage, who knows?
Darnold was 14-3 overall this season. He completed 361 of 545 passes for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. It was comfortably the best season of his career, but he finished like a Steeler. In the final district-defining game of the season, he completed just 44 percent of his passes and didn’t throw a touchdown. He wasn’t that good when we lost in the playoffs.
But there’s no question that Darnold had a better season with the Steelers than Wilson or Fields. Depending on the asking price, how seriously should management consider him as a payback alternative? Given last year’s performance, they have little confidence in his ability to win a Super Bowl. . And realistically, Darnold may have the best chance to move up in 2025.
The Steelers’ 2024 season came to a predictably inauspicious end, making the postseason another one-shot for head coach Mike Tomlin. The offense was sluggish and the defense responded with a single blow, leading to a 21-0 deficit in the first half.
Just like last year, the biggest question plaguing the Steelers is quarterback. Will they? I still believe in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.or do you want another solution? There is Other important decisions need to be madeand what to do with George Pickens. Do you sign him to an extension, try to trade him, or let him play out his rookie contract?
The Steelers started the 2024 season with a 10-3 record, and Mike Tomlin was named Coach of the Year. Wash, rinse, repeat, and the breakdown will happen again later in the season. This may be the worst yet. A four-game losing streak foreshadows a run in the playoffs. Welcome to Steelers football.
