Darnold’s cheeky response—quick to dive in when practice turns physical—frames him as a vocal, confident presence who values taking charge in the heat. His stance adds a leadership dimension to Seattle’s mindset as the Seahawks close preseason and prepare for Week 1.

Darnold kept a lighthearted tone about the melee when asked his role, joking that he’d dive in—parlaying the chaotic backdrop into a reminder that joint practices blend competition with camaraderie as Seattle eyes competition for QB depth.

Darnold’s trek from No. 3 pick to backup and then postseason catalyst with the Vikings frames him as a high-upside depth option in Seattle. His 2023 success in Minnesota showed he can run a pro offense in a variety of concepts, raising the floor and ceiling for a likely script where he starts only if Geno Smith stumbles, but still offering stake for fantasy managers in very deep leagues as a swing-start quarterback.

Darnold is cited as a hypothetical reboot option for Anthony Richardson if development stalls, reflecting the league’s pattern of reclamation projects. The discussion frames him as a potential fallback that some teams might target to avoid rushed QB development.

Darnold’s path to relevance is framed by a year of career-best play after a late-career extension and a high-profile move in Seattle. The article points to a potential role in a quarterback rotation and how his performance could influence Seattle’s offense as a bridge option or upside surprise.