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Sam Darnold couldn’t be thought of more differently now than he was two years ago.
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The quarterback at once looked like a massive bust. Darnold struggled mightily with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, but his career took a 180 when he landed in Minnesota
Darnold threw for over 4,000 yards in 2024 and led the Vikings to a 14-3 record. Then, Darnold did the exact same thing with the Seahawks in 2025, but this time, he won the Super Bowl as well.
Unfortunately, Darnold got hurt in the Week 1 game this season. The quarterback isn’t expected to be out long-term, but he could miss a few games. If that’s the case, the team will turn to Drew Lock to start, but they could use an experienced backup.
If experience is what the Seahawks want, there’s an available player who has experience with almost every team in the NFL.
Josh Johnson Could be Perfect Backup to Lock
Josh Johnson has been around the block. The quarterback has been in and out of the league since 2009, and he appeared in games for seven different teams.
Most recently, the 40-year-old started in two games for the Commanders in 2025. The Commanders went 1-1 in those games, and Johnson threw for 372 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
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Alex Kay of Bleacher Report recently identified realistic fits for the top remaining free agents. For Johnson, Kay thinks the Seahawks make perfect sense.
“Johnson offers an extensive amount of experience stemming from his time playing for 14 different teams since entering the league as fifth-round pick in the 2008 draft,” Kay said. “Although Johnson wouldn’t be pressed into action unless Lock goes down and second-year developmental project Jalen Milroe is either injured or ineffective after taking the reins, he’s the type of steady old hand the Seahawks can trust if things go from bad to worse over these next few weeks.”
It definitely wouldn’t hurt to have Johnson’s experience in the quarterback room. As mentioned above, Lock should be perfectly serviceable as the starter, but relying on Jalen Milroe as the backup is risky.
Milroe has never attempted a regular season pass in the NFL. Johnson has attempted a ton of passes in the NFL, and he will still use his legs. In 2025, the veteran rushed for 55 yards and one score in his two games.
Plus, the Seahawks are one of the few teams that Johnson has never played for, so he could scratch them off the list.
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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 6:38 AM.