They often say the NFL is a “copy cat” league, where each team is desperately seeking the “next” version of whatever has been working. Right now, the Seattle Seahawks are the talk of the town as Super Bowl LX champions… especially their quarterback, Sam Darnold.
Cast aside years ago, and perennially labeled a “bust” or constantly questioned, Darnold proved everyone wrong by helping guide the Seahawks to their second-ever Lombardi trophy. Darnold showed the league that young quarterbacks who flame out elsewhere can still reclaim their career, given the right opportunity. Now, this has teams questioning all sorts of previously held beliefs regarding certain players. The NFL is likely on the search for the next “Sam Darnold.”
Football talk show host and analyst Rich Eisen recently spoke how he believes another quarterback under the tutelage of Kyle Shanahan might be the next to make this sort of leap: Mac Jones.
“Mac Jones, in my estimation, is the most likely candidate to be the next Sam Darnold of anybody else.”
—@richeisen on Mac Jones’ potential after being under the Kyle Shanahan system 👀
(via @RichEisenShow) pic.twitter.com/w4tW9GkaME
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 23, 2026
The comparison makes sense. Jones didn’t fall out quite as hard as Darnold did, but his tenure in New England came to an unceremonious end with multiple benching’s. Jones started seven games in Jacksonville last season, where he went 2-5, had eight touchdown passes against eight interceptions. However, he may have extended his career with strong play for the Niners this past season. In relief of the injured Brock Purdy, Jones went 5-3 as a starter in San Francisco, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns and only six interceptions.
Jones is under contract with the Niners for another season, but that could make him incredibly attractive for an NFL team to take a chance on him. Trade for him, see what he can do, and if it’s anything worthwhile, sign him to another short term deal.
Whatever the case may be, Sam Darnold’s success with the Seahawks in 2025 is going to get plenty of other “cast-off” quarterbacks a second or even third look.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: NFL free agency: the NFL is on the hunt for the next “Sam Darnold”
