Our own Sam Darnold, QB for the Seattle Seahawks, wrapped up the 2025 season ranked third in the entire NFL for interceptions, throwing a wild 14 picks in what was a surprising turn for a Super Bowl champion. Now, with the 2026 NFL season quickly approaching, the oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook have him sitting at +2200 to lead the entire league in that stat no signal-caller ever wants to top. Yeah, that’s definitely something to keep an eye on, 12s.
The 2025 Interception Leaders, And Where Our QB Stood
Looking back at last season, the league saw some serious turnover action, and it wasn’t always from the guys you’d expect. Geno Smith, who’s now with the Jets after playing for the Raiders in 2025, unfortunately led the NFL with 17 interceptions in just 15 games. He’s the betting favorite at +900 to repeat that unwanted feat this year. Right behind him was Tua Tagovailoa, tossing 15 picks in only 14 games. Then, somewhat surprisingly, our own Sam Darnold rounded out the top three, putting up those 14 interceptions. Justin Herbert was fourth with 13, and Trevor Lawrence and J.J. McCarthy each had 12. For a quarterback that led his team to a Super Bowl, that interception total from Darnold definitely caught some attention.
2026 Odds Are Out, And It’s A Wide-Open Race
As we gear up for the 2026 season, the betting lines are already buzzing. While Geno Smith sits atop the list at +900, with Brock Purdy close behind at +1000, our guy Sam Darnold is among a cluster of quarterbacks at +2200. This group also includes big names like Caleb Williams, Patrick Mahomes, and Drake Maye. It shows how much uncertainty there is around who might struggle with ball security this year. For the Emerald City faithful, seeing Darnold on this list, especially after his 2025 performance, means we need to see him protect the ball way better if we want to make some noise. We know what he’s capable of, but those turnovers can absolutely kill drives and momentum.
A Look Back: Even The Best Turn It Over Sometimes
It’s not just the new guys or the journeymen who sometimes struggle with interceptions. When you peek at the total picks over the last five seasons, some of the league’s absolute elite are right there at the top. Josh Allen leads that list with a staggering 63 interceptions, and Patrick Mahomes is right behind him with 61. Baker Mayfield and Trevor Lawrence are tied at 58, followed by Tua Tagovailoa with 54, and Geno Smith with 53. This tells you that even the best quarterbacks take risks, and sometimes those risks don’t pay off. For Darnold, it’s about finding that balance and minimizing the costly errors.
The 2026 NFL season is so close, and we’re ready for it. For Sam Darnold and our Seahawks, ball security is going to be absolutely critical. We’re counting on him to make smart decisions and limit those giveaways. Let’s hope those +2200 odds for leading the league in picks stay just that, odds, and not a reality for our QB. Go Hawks!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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