THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Which version will Seahawks get of new QB?

It’s my favorite phrase in sports. 

“Legal tampering.” 

Yep, it’s an oxymoron, clear as day, but when the National Football League declares something to be part of the language, there’s no debate. 

This legal tampering business would be fun no matter what, but the best part is that it describes a part of the NFL calendar that lasts exactly two days. 

Two. 

This year, teams could fiddle with each other’s free agents from Monday morning (9 a.m. PDT) until Wednesday, when that tampering can be turned into contract signing. 

Of course, the REALLY cool part of these magic two days is that “sources” (media connected to the league) routinely whisper that an agreement is in place, and that a coveted player will put pen to paper on Wednesday. 

Did all this happen “legally” since 9 a.m. on Monday? 

Hah! 

The big news in our neighborhood, obviously, concerns the Seahawks replacing quarterback Geno Smith (traded to Las Vegas) with free agent Sam Darnold. 

Forgive me a hint of cynicism here, but there’s no way that the Hawks and Darnold’s agents could have pieced together a multi-year contract in 48 hours. 

Start to finish. 

We’ll just have to live with the notion of “illegal tampering,” and cuddle with it. 

OK? 

I HOPE that doesn’t impact your sense of morality and fair play.  

It probably won’t. 

Well, not as long as Darnold throws bullets to guys in the proper-colored uniforms, and leads these new-look, powerhouse Seahawks deep into the playoffs. 

On the other hand, what if Darnold basically reverts to his five years of non-stop failure prior to last season’s Cinderella season in Minnesota?  

Believe it or not, Seattle would STILL be better off than if GM John Schneider had approved the three- or four-year deal at $45 million per season that Geno was seeking. 

Darnold is seven years younger than Smith, and even hitting free agency after leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record last season, he’ll be cheaper. 

Those mysterious “sources” suggest that the Hawks are getting Darnold’s services for something around $110.5 million over three years — or about what Geno Smith will be able to tip his golf caddie. 

Several national media outlets have used the word “steal” in reference to the Seahawks’ landing Darnold. 

If Sam slings it, and runs Klint Kubiak’s play-action offense with the same efficiency he showed in Minnesota, the Hawks’ investment will be spectacular, indeed. 

Everyone in the game understands the roller-coaster nature of Darnold’s resume. 

Yes, he finally seemed to blossom last season (after being the No. 3 overall pick by the Jets in the 2018 draft), but the Vikings’ final two games were disasters, and Darnold did little to help. 

Minnesota scored just nine points in each of these blowouts, to Detroit ending the regular season and then to the Rams in the postseason wild-card round. 

Teams who think about spending hundreds of millions for a franchise QB want to see their star-to-be perform under pressure. 

So, the jury is out — once again — on Sam Darnold. 

YOU CAN’T just dismiss 15 games last year, though, especially in the tough NFC North. 

Darnold threw 35 TD passes against just 11 interceptions, and everyone close to the Vikings praised his leadership. 

You surely couldn’t complain about his numbers. 

Among other stats, Darnold led the entire NFL in completed throws of 20+ yards, and likewise with 16 “big chance plays” against the blitz. 

He was second (to Detroit’s Jared Goff) in success on play-action throws, a truly handy skill given that the Hawks’ OC Kubiak goes as heavy as anyone on that type of run-pass combo. 

Critics of the Seahawks’ basic exchange of Smith for Darnold (plus a third-round pick and lots of saved money) lean on Darnold’s five-year lack of success, and suggest that Minnesota’s offensive talent couldn’t help but make Sam look good. 

Justin Jefferson alone is a staggering talent who could snag 110 mile-per-hour knuckleballs. 

Meanwhile, the Hawks have traded away DK Metcalf and released Tyler Lockett, not to mention ongoing problems along the offensive line that Darnold didn’t have to sweat in Minnesota. 

At the risk of sounding like Pollyanna, though, I think Schneider has arranged this whole deal with a Plan B in place. 

Darnold’s deal includes just $55 million in guaranteed money — and in this league, you can get AT LEAST that much just for throwing a spiral. 

Then there’s the 2026 draft, which scouts and personnel people claim is loaded with gifted QBs — as opposed to this year’s draft, coming up in April. 

Schneider is savvy enough to make this Darnold deal work, but he also knows there are no sure things in the NFL. 

He’s going to have somebody warming up. 

That’s a guarantee. 

Email: scameron@cdapress.com 

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday unless, you know, stuff happens. 

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”