# Steven Ruiz: Ruiz argues Sam Darnold is still the same quarterback as last season and that Seattle's offensive environment, not Darnold, is the problem; they add that if Darnold's production doesn't pick up over the next three months, Seattle's offseason contract talks with them will be cheaper for the new ownership. **Claimed:** Oct 14, 2026 **Pundit:** Steven Ruiz — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/steven-ruiz **Outlet:** Fox Sports — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/fox-sports **How it reached us:** published in writing **Original:** https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/qb-notebook-whats-going-on-with-sam-darnold-inside-justin-herberts-worst-season One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened. It names 2 players and teams, each linked to their own record. Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in. > On the bright side for Seattle, if Darnold's production doesn't improve over the next three months, the inevitable offseason contract discussions will be much easier to navigate – and cost the new ownership far less money. *(their words, quoted for attribution)* ## The claims - **Sam Darnold: “if Darnold's production doesn't improve over the next three months, the inevitable offseason contract discussions will be much easier to navigate – and cost the new ownership far less money”** - Kind: Contract Calls · About: Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks - Verdict: not settled yet ## Who this take is about - Sam Darnold — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/players/sam-darnold - Seattle Seahawks — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/seahawks ## What others said about the same people - Jeremy Brener on Drew Lock: Brener picked the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in Week 9 by a multi-score margin, giving a final score of 27-13, and expressed confidence Seattle would be fine with Drew Lock starting at quarterback. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/7eb2d245-63d0-4be0-80ba-3f60197e2b16 (scored 100) - Rich Eisen on Sam Darnold: Eisen expects Sam Darnold to remain in Minnesota rather than leave in free agency, and believes the Browns will trade Myles Garrett out of the conference, to an NFC team. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/2bab8f84-0dc0-4acd-88d5-539898948d95 (scored 0) - Albert Breer on Seattle Seahawks: Breer picks the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals in their Week 9 NFC West matchup. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4d67a8a5-0c05-4abe-b2ca-f0cef8390b1d (scored 100) - Tyler Sullivan on Seattle Seahawks: Sullivan picks the Seahawks to win in Week 9. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dfca04b3-5c80-4a2e-b0de-8ac3a25f225b (scored 100) - Dave Richard on Seattle Seahawks: Richard picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d3db433e-52c6-42d1-a3b0-6b342aac8a9e (scored 100) - John Pluym on Seattle Seahawks: Pluym picks the Seahawks over the Cardinals. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e3897747-c55f-4340-9e82-03f9730f87ba (scored 100) ## More contract calls The same kind of call, about other players and teams. - Adam Schefter on Dallas Goedert: Schefter wrote that Dallas Goedert stays in Philadelphia after the deadline and could even re-sign with the Eagles for 2027. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/5aaf82a8-c15e-4fad-aa91-5a88d9bd2754 (not settled) - Jack Markowski on Joey Porter Jr.: Markowski argued the Steelers clearly won the Joey Porter Jr. trade with Dallas and suggested Porter Jr. is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with the Cowboys, with a similar possibility floated for George Pickens. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/d014debd-f4d3-4a20-bc71-109bce3968d7 (not settled) - Spencer German on Jared Verse: Picked Houston to beat Cleveland in Week 10 by a final score of 24-20, expecting a one-score game decided by the Texans' pass rush overwhelming a struggling Browns offensive line. Also suggested that a strong second half from Jared Verse would lead the Browns to pick up the fifth-year option. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/89e2488b-27e7-41f5-b3f9-bcd039739d63 (not settled) - John Middlekauff on C.J. Stroud: Middlekauff previewed Week 11, projecting the Commanders to finish with six or seven wins and the Giants with eight or nine, naming four AFC teams as playoff locks, and picking the Chiefs, Texans, Steelers and 49ers to win their games. Also predicted a top-15 draft slot for Charlie Becker and an eventual big contract for C.J. Stroud if the Texans finish strong. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/1edc2ab2-a022-40b1-9074-e2f0a4a2e0f4 (not settled) - Tom Pelissero on C.J. Stroud: Pelissero picked the Jaguars as the AFC team to like most, said Lamar Jackson will not be cut or traded by Baltimore, and argued C.J. Stroud is heading for a contract that would make him the league's highest-paid quarterback at around $65 million per year. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3131c31e-f020-4e06-a65b-23596d9285e7 (not settled) - Nate Gosney on Daiyan Henley: After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/60272861-4ad0-4749-b36a-dcdf09b9213f (not settled) --- Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages. Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us: https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=steven-ruiz