Field Gulls on Sam Darnold

ArticleWhy Sam Darnold’s cratering play is a big picture problem for the Seahawks
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When it's not working, Darnold has consistently been anywhere from average to ruinous in pure dropback situations... Per ESPN Research, Sam Darnold was pressured on 14 of 39 dropbacks against Chicago. While pressured, he went just 1 of 11 for 13 yards and an interception.
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Darnold 31st in EPA/dropback when pressured in 2026; 1-of-11 for 13 yards vs. Chicago pressure.

Darnold is heavily dependent on play-action to function; when play-action is not working, he has consistently been anywhere from average to ruinous in pure dropback situations. Against Chicago, he was pressured on 14 of 39 dropbacks and went just 1 of 11 for 13 yards and an interception while pressured. Over two years in a Seahawks uniform, Darnold was 30th out of 33 qualifying QBs in EPA/dropback when pressured in 2025, but was also one of the least pressured QBs in the NFL that year. In 2026, he's 31st out of 31 QBs in EPA/dropback when pressured while ranking top 12 in pressure rate—a dramatic reversal that exposes his vulnerability.

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