Ever since the Seahawks
essentially swapped Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Marques Valdes-Scantling, plus a couple of Day 2 picks, fans have debated whether the Hawks made a good aggregate deal.
Now that we have numbers on all of Seattle’s contracts, we can compare the money (pending Smith’s new deal with the Raiders).
When we had initial numbers only, it looked like the Hawks would save about $30 million a year on the exchange of Smith-Metcalf for Darnold-Kupp. That was assuming Smith would get his $45 million a year. He still has not, sitting on $31 million for 2025. Metcalf got $30 million a year, so that’s about $60 million APY for the two former Seahawks right now.
Darnold signed a three-year deal worth $33.5 million a year. Kupp signed for $15 million a year. That’s $48.5 million combined.
Darnold’s deal could be just one year at $39 million, but it probably is two years for $66.5 million (with $5 million each year in incentives as well). And then see whether he is worth a new deal in 2027.
As for 2025, the Hawks went from a total cap hit of $106.6 million for Smith, Metcalf and Lockett to $26.7 million for Darnold, Kupp and MVS. Even if you add the dead money for the first three, the net cap hit this year is just $75.1 million. So the Hawks saved over $30 million in 2025 cap space while adding picks in the second and third rounds.
Darnold is quite comparable to Smith as a QB (with more upside), and the Hawks likely will use a Day 2 pick on a receiver, so that’s a win for 2025.
While the Hawks can get out of Darnold’s deal after 2025, they are not likely to. But, if he plays well enough to merit keeping beyond 2027, they surely will talk extension after the 2026 season – he is due a $10 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year in 2027.
As for Kupp, he is getting $17.5 million this year. The Hawks will have to decide next February whether they are keeping him – $9 million of his almost $13 million salary will be guaranteed as of Feb. 10. If he struggles to get on the field again next season, cutting him probably will be a no-brainer – it would return $9.5 million in cap space.
In the end, the relative value of these deals will be measured by the performance of the players.
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 
Since both Smith and Metcalf wanted out, Schneider’s maneuverings were especially impressive. But he’s made intricate trades in the past only to wind up with little to show for it once the new draft picks were made and the new money spent.
That being said, adding another second rounder for DK means that Schneider should get something out of the second round. Historically a GM has a 50% chance of hitting in the second round, so adding another pick means that at least one of #50/52 should work out.
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Yeah, I am really hoping this is not a repeat of 2016-17 drafts, when he went a mere 3/10 on Day 2.
Overall, I count him as 11/17 in the second round — although some of those wins (Tate, P-Rich, Britt) took 2-3 years to develop …
Would be nice to find a Wagner, Reed or Metcalf type of hit.
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