How many facets of a quarterback’s game does Seattle Seahawks star Sam Darnold excel at on an elite level?
Darnold had a career year in 2025. The accolades that he racked up — a Super Bowl ring and 4,000-yard passing season — are the results of what he put forth on the field. But when dissecting his play, the 29-year-old quarterback showed his excellence in different areas of the game that may have exceeded that of many of his peers in the league at the position.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky ranked Darnold in the top 10 among all starting quarterbacks in the NFL in ball placement (No. 3), pocket presence (No. 3), and second-reaction ability (No. 5).
Darnold was able to drop passes in the bucket and find his receivers down the field with his powerful arm last season. In the pocket, Darnold found ways to make big plays, including in big moments, and kept his composure with sound mechanics, though when pressured, did experience some difficulties. When plays broke down and the pocket collapsed, he proved himself to be productive.
Next season will present Darnold with the opportunity to prove his excellence in those areas of the game at an even higher level, in the midst of his career surge.
Dan Orlovsky is not alone in his praise of Darnold, who recently came in at No. 21 on the NFL's Top 100 Players of 2026 list.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky lauds Seahawks QB Sam Darnold in NFL QB rankings