The Seattle Seahawks went all-in on their offensive rebuild this offseason, allowing three fan favorites to leave as the team underwent a massive overhaul. Seattle replaced Geno Smith with Sam Darnold and handed him a massive three-year, $100,500,000 contract while also drafting Jalen Milroe in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Long-time division rival Cooper Kupp has also joined after his release from the Los Angeles Rams.
But can these bold choices help the Seahawks get back to winning ways? One analyst doesn’t think so and predicts Seattle will hit the reset button at quarterback yet again come the 2026 NFL Draft.
Seattle Seahawks Predicted To Draft QB of The Future in 2026 Despite Sam Darnold, Jalen Milroe Investments
The Seahawks fans are likely to be nervous about what they have seen during this offseason, and it was the reason they were one of the only four teams to receive a C+ grade from PFSN.
While Darnold is technically a slight upgrade on Smith in terms of QB+ from last season, having ranked 12th compared to 15th for Smith, the former Vikings QB comes with a lot more risk. Like Darnold, Milroe also comes with question marks, having been inaccurate and indecisive at times. That is scary, but even more so is the fact that they haven’t put the right pieces around their QBs, especially Darnold, that helped him excel in Minnesota.
Darnold won’t have DK Metcalf at his disposal after the team traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They also moved on from Tyler Lockett. While Kupp’s addition was a big boost, the offensive line has been a concern for the team this offseason after the now-departed Smith was sacked 50 times in 2024, the third-most in the NFL. Seattle lost Laken Tomlinson in free agency after the guard started all 17 games in 2024. Connor Williams, who started nine games last campaign, is also no longer on the team, having retired.
The only notable addition to the team’s offensive line this offseason was first-round pick Grey Zabel, prompting PFSN’s Mark Stolte to predict another rough season for Seattle. The solution? Selecting a QB known for his sack avoidance in the 2026 NFL Draft – LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier at No. 10 overall.
“Garrett Nussmeier’s top trait is sack avoidance — something the Seattle Seahawks will value after a rough year with Sam Darnold behind a bad line,” Stolte wrote. “Unlike his time in Minnesota, Darnold didn’t have elite receivers, protection, or play-calling to help him out. That’s why grabbing Nussmeier on a rookie deal matters.
“Aside from avoiding sacks, the Nuss Buss has great anticipation on throws. He can put zip on it and isn’t afraid to squeeze it into tight windows. Nussmeier ranked 11th in EPA last year on throws targeting the slot — great news for a team that has both Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.”
Nussmeier may not be the flashiest QB in the 2026 class, but he’s accurate, smart, and calm under pressure. This past season, he took over from Jayden Daniels and immediately put up incredible numbers.
2:46 of Garrett Nussmeier’s off platform/on the move throws (+ scrambles!) from the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/gJEMODQ9Cv
— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) May 21, 2025
Before 2024, he had close to 2,000 yards and 12 total touchdowns to his credit. However, taking over the starting role, he immediately put up 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, while adding three touchdowns on the ground as well.
Where Did Garrett Nussmeier Rank in PFSN’s 2026 NFL Draft QB Rankings?
Nussmeier was ranked fifth in PFSN’s latest QB rankings for the 2026 NFL Draft by Ian Cummings. Here’s what Cummings wrote about the 23-year-old:
“The ‘Nuss Buss’ is loading up fast after a breakout 2024 season. Garrett Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing over 64% of his passes — ranking among the top volume passers returning to college football.
“He’s not an elite athlete, nor does he have elite size or arm strength. At 6’2″, 200 pounds, he’s fairly average physically. But his pocket management, anticipation, quick reactions and clutch fearlessness give him a legitimate NFL projection.
“Nussmeier resembles Tony Romo: A crafty, high-IQ gunslinger who thrives on timing and execution, even without high-end traits — and his arm elasticity is prevalent enough to raise his ceiling in-structure. He could climb boards fast in 2025.”