Seattle Seahawks DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is expected to sign with the Minnesota Vikings when the new league year begins on Wednesday, according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. He will ink a one-year, $10 million deal. The Vikings just lost veteran franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, so Darnold could have the chance to earn a few starts in 2024. Minnesota could be eyeing a rookie quarterback in next month's NFL Draft, but Darnold could serve as a bridge quarterback as they ease a rookie into action. The former No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets has thrown for 12,064 yards, 63 touchdowns, and 56 interceptions during his six-year NFL career. He was Brock Purdy's backup in San Francisco last season. Although he's not on the single-QB fantasy radar, he could be worth rostering in two-QB or Superflex leagues early next season.

Free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold is weighing free-agent offers between the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, according to sources. The Broncos recently released Russell Wilson, who was quickly picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Meanwhile, the Vikings saw Kirk Cousins walk in free agency to the Atlanta Falcons, so both teams could use a veteran QB addition like Darnold to compete with either Jarrett Stidham (in Denver) or Nick Mullens? (in Minnesota). Of course, both teams could also make a move up in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft to land a future franchise signal-caller as well. Darnold, 26, was a bust for the Jets as the third overall pick in 2018 and has started just seven games in the last two years with the Panthers and Niners. If Darnold ends up starting for the majority of next season with either the Broncos or Vikings, their offenses would be in bad shape.

Free-agent tight end Noah Fant is re-signing with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday for two years and $21 million, according to sources. The former first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019 out of Iowa has over 2,800 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in his five NFL seasons with Denver and Seattle. He hasn't been much more than a TE2 in fantasy, though, and he really disappointed last year with a career-low 32 receptions on 43 targets for 414 yards and no touchdowns in 17 starts. The good news is that both Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson are headed elsewhere in free agency, so perhaps the 26-year-old Fant is able to rebound as a more-involved pass-catcher in 2024. Until that happens, though, he should be left on the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini writes that we should look for the Minnesota Vikings to go after free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold after former QB Kirk Cousins joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency on Monday. Darnold has other suitors on the open market, but perhaps none more desperate than the Vikings right now. The former first-round pick spent the 2023 season as the San Francisco 49ers' backup to Brock Purdy, and he ended up going 28-for-46 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in 10 games played (one start). The 26-year-old looked much more comfortable with the Niners in limited action last year, but that doesn't mean he'll improve at all in a different organization if he's forced into a starting role for the Vikings in 2024. However, he would be in a strong situation with one of the best receivers in the game in Justin Jefferson.

The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling ahead of free agency in a cap-saving move. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the team saves $12 million on the cap. The veteran speedster spent two seasons with the Chiefs, totaling 63 receptions for 1,002 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 33 games. He wasn't overly productive, but he did catch two touchdowns in the 2022 playoffs and caught a touchdown in the victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. Valdes-Scantling is unlikely to sign a big-money deal this offseason, but his field-stretching skill set will be attractive to a few teams.