In 2018, Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield were tabbed to become franchise quarterbacks for a pair of teams that have historically struggled to find long-term answers at that position.
Mayfield was selected by Cleveland with the No. 1 overall pick, then a few minutes later, the Jets picked Darnold at No. 3 overall, setting them up to be, if all went according to plan, the future faces and leaders of those teams.
Of course, all did not go according to plan, and by 2022, the two were teammates in Carolina who entered the season competing for a starting job. Mayfield, after enjoying some success in Cleveland, was traded to Carolina after the Browns decided to go all in on Deshaun Watson that offseason, while Darnold was heading into his second year with the Panthers having been traded following a 2020 season in which the Jets went 2-14, setting them up to draft Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick.
As teammates in Carolina, Mayfield and Darnold became good friends who could bond, in part, over the bumpy roads they had traveled up to that point in their respective careers.
"Going back to the draft, and really that year in Carolina that we spent together, that was a special year just being able to spend it with Bake and that entire quarterback room that we had," Darnold said Thursday ahead of his and the Seahawks' Week 5 game against Mayfield's Buccaneers. "It was fun to be able to get to know him, Emily (Mayfield), and his entire family."
"We had conversations every now and then about the places that we were, things that had happened, and similarities between us, for sure."
Neither player stuck around long in Carolina either, but after a rejuvenating stint in L.A. with the Rams, Mayfield found success with Tampa Bay, while Darnold, after a year as a backup in San Francisco, saw his resurgence come last year in Minnesota.
Now, seven years after they were drafted two picks apart, and three years after they were teammates, Mayfield and Darnold, former castoffs by the teams that drafted them, are Pro-Bowl quarterbacks leading two of the top teams in the NFC.
Darnold, who joined the Vikings last season as a free agent, led Minnesota to a 14-3 record on his way to the first Pro-Bowl selection of his career. After signing with the Seahawks, Darnold has picked up where he left off, completing 70 percent of his passes while leading the NFL in yards per attempt (9.1) and yards per completion (12.9) and posting a career-best 106.5 passer rating. Mayfield, meanwhile, is in his third season with the Buccaneers, having earned the first two Pro-Bowl selections of his career while leading Tampa Bay to the playoffs each of the past two seasons.
And on Sunday, both players will be leading a pair of 3-1 teams that both have legitimate playoff aspirations, a far cry from where they were as teammates on a struggling Panthers team three years ago.
"Sam and I are really close," Mayfield told reporters in Tampa Bay this week. "I'm just happy for him. From going a couple of different places that weren't great for us to having a good opportunity elsewhere, it's fun to see. I knew he just needed that opportunity, another chance, and he's thriving now."
Mayfield and Darnold's delayed success stories two of several examples that, given the challenges of the position and, quite frequently, the challenging positions they are put into being drafted by struggling teams, it's not fair, or prudent, for teams to give up on a quarterback who doesn't enjoy immediate success. Over the past three seasons, the Seahawks benefited from Geno Smith's career resurgence, while this year the Colts are off to a hot start with former Giants first-round pick Daniel Jones leading one of the league's highest scoring offenses.
"Our organization is the poster child for that sort of thing," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said, referencing Smith and Darnold's success in Seattle. "A wise man once said players are allowed to get better and that's something we believe in here. I have a lot of respect for Baker. I think he's playing at a really high level, obviously his team respects the heck out of him. He's tough. He competes. He's won. We've had a lot of great battles with him when he was in Cleveland. And Sam's (Darnold) writing a heck of a story for himself too right now. It's great what's going on in the league with some of the quarterbacks, bringing their careers to a different level as it grows, that's pretty cool."
Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who was with Darnold in San Francisco two seasons ago, sees his quarterback as a classic example of a player who showed resilience, got better and is now making the most of his opportunities.
"Absolutely," Kubiak said when asked if quarterbacks are given up on too soon in the NFL. "That's just part of the NFL, everyone's going to get fired, coaches, players, and it's what happens after that. Sam's a terrific example of, keep fighting, you have a passion, you love playing the game, you get better, you get another opportunity and you make the most of it. It's no different than any other position, there's just more of a microscope on the Qs."
Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp was teammates with Mayfield during the quarterback's five-game stint with the Rams in 2022, and now he is part a Seahawks offense that is thriving under Darnold's leadership, and in both players, he's seen good examples how teams are often too quick to give up on young players tasked with handling the most difficult position in the sport.
"I do think the plugs get pulled on guys a little early," Kupp said. "You've got to give guys the ability to learn, make mistakes and truly give guys the freedom to make mistakes. Guys across the league, rookies come in here, make huge mistakes. I know I've made my fair share. And as a quarterback, you are put in a position where you have to make these decisions. And you're put in a position to make a mistake out of 10, 20, 30 times what most other guys are. So, there's going to be more mistakes, there's going to be more errors. But we're so critical of those guys because they have the ball all the time.
"Give the guys a chance to learn, figure it out, and don't put the pressure on and if you make a mistake, just let it rip. Go do it again. It's fine. These are part of growing in this league. It's a natural process that's going to happen. I think the best quarterbacks in this league have been in positions early on where they can grow into that and make those mistakes behind the scenes or they're given a position to go out there and learn and let it fly. And coaches have said it doesn't matter. I'm secure in myself. We're secure enough to trust that you're going to be able to figure these things out. I think those guys flourish if you just let them get to that place."
Darnold and Mayfield had to bounce around the league a bit to get that chance, but now, heading into a Week 5 showdown between playoff hopefuls, both are indeed flourishing.
The Seahawks face the Buccaneers at Lumen Field for Week 5 of the 2025 season. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. Take a look back at photos from previous games between the two teams.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Eddie McMillan (41) during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oct. 17, 1976, in Tampa, Fla. (NFL Photos via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent catches a pass during game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium, Oct. 17, 1976. Seahawks won, 13-10. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Brent Williams (93) gestures to fans during play an NFL pre-season football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aug. 13, 1994 in Seattle. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Merton Hanks (36) celebrates his third quarter sack, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jorge Diaz stands nearby, Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, in Seattle. The Buccaneers won 16-3. (AP Photo/Matt Wallis)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) is tripped up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dwight Smith in the first half Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom (96) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson (14) during the Seahawks 10-6 win Sunday Sept. 19, 2004 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson (81) goes horizontal to pull in a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly Sunday Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Buccaneers 10-6. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms (2) can only watch as his fourth-quarter pass is intercepted by Seattle Seahawks' Michael Boulware, foreground left, during the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks held on the beat the Buccaneers 10-6. Defending for the Buccaneers is Derrick Deese (70) as Seattle's Grant Wistrom (96) lies behind Simms. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, center, throws a touchdown pass while being defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Shelton Quarles, left, and Greg Spires during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) celebrates with teammate Chris Spencer after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. Seattle won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott (40) winces as he gets hit by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Kevin Bentley during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, left, tries to evade Tampa Bay Buccaneers right cornerback Brian Kelly, second from left, and linebacker Derrick Brooks, second from right, in the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in a NFL football game at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Carnell Williams (24) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp on a run during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia (7) scrambles for six yards as Seattle Seahawks' LeRoy Hill brings him down during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-6. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks tight end John Carlson (89) runs in for a touchdown following a catch during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham (34) runs for a first down as Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux (27) makes the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett (30) returns a kick past Tampa Bay Buccaneer's Ryan Clark (87) during an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seatle Seahawks 20-10. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) gets past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Greg White (91) and Gaines Adams during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. Tampa Bay won 20-10. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Ward (28) in action against the Seattle Seahawks, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' John Carlson crosses the goal line to score a touchdown in the second quarter under pressure from Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Sabby Piscitelli, right, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense lines up against the Seattle Seahawks offense during an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (18) is gang tackled during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) is upended during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams (19) dives past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (23) to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu (87) beats Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (20) to score on a third-quarter two-point conversion during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Running back Marshawn Lynch (24) of the Seattle Seahawks runs upfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 26, 2010 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) celebrates during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) rolls out to pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin in action during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) gets tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Akeem Spence (97) and defensive end William Gholston (92) during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) sets for a snap in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) tumbles for a gain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and cornerback Jeremy Lane (20) tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs for yardage past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
