Analysis: Ranking Seahawks’ Positional Groups by Long-Term Stability
The Seattle Seahawks are fresh off the ultimate high, hoisting a Super Bowl trophy. But, even championship rosters come with expiration dates. As Seattle turns the page toward the 2026 season and beyond, the question isn’t just how good this team is right now, but how sustainable that success will be.
From looming free agents to aging veterans and thin positional depth, some areas of the roster are far more secure than others. With that in mind, here’s a full ranking of every position group on the Seahawks, ordered by how stable their future truly is.
Three-Year Outlook: Seahawks in Great Shape for Present, Future Offensively
As the calendar flips to April and the 2026 NFL Draft rapidly approaches, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in the heat of the offseason, continuing to look into ways to improve their roster scanning the free agent market along with wrapping up draft evaluations while also exploring extensions to retain several of their top players.
While building the best roster for the upcoming season remains the top goal with eyes on defending their Super Bowl title, Seahawks general manager John Schneider also has to be cognizant of the future, making every decision in regard to free agency, extensions, and the draft with a multi-year window in mind.
Now less than a month away from the draft, how does Seattle’s offense look for both the present and the future?
Ready to Defend Title, Seahawks ‘Cognizant’ of Lessons Learned From Previous Super Bowl Runs
Every season in the NFL is unique by nature thanks to free agency and the draft ensuring substantial roster turnover across the league, and while the Seattle Seahawks only lost five players in free agency off of their Super Bowl LX winning squad, they won’t be an exception to the rule with several newcomers coming on board as they begin their title defense.
With that said, though the vibes will undoubtedly be a bit different in 2026 regardless of the continuity on the roster, that doesn’t mean that the effects of playing into February and hoisting the Lombardi Trophy won’t have an impact on the upcoming season either. Fortunately for general manager John Schneider, this isn’t his first rodeo coming off of a Super Bowl run, and he’s eager to take advantage of the multitude of lessons learned from the last time the Seahawks made the big game in back to back seasons in 2014 and 2015.
Speaking with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix, leaning on his first-hand experience from those prior Super Bowl runs, Schneider indicated that there’s a lot of factors Seattle must be “cognizant” of after playing deep into February that go well beyond building the roster and coaching staff.
Three Questions About Future of the Seahawks After Jaxon Smith-Njigba Megadeal
Earlier this week, the Seahawks made NFL history. They made Jaxon Smith-Njigba the highest paid receiver in history, inking him to a four-year, $168.6 million extension (averaging $42.15 million per year with $120 million guaranteed).
While fans are excited to see the reigning Offensive Player of the Year staying in Seattle for the next half-decade at least, this megadeal raises some questions. Let’s dive into three.
Record Deal in Tow, Jaxon Smith-Njigba ‘Ready to Attack’ as Seahawks’ Foundational Star
Nearly three years ago to the day, with the team holding two first-round picks thanks to the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade from March 2022, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, former coach Pete Carroll, and several team scouts flew into Columbus to check out an Ohio State pro day loaded with a ridiculous abundance of future NFL talent.
Drawing the most spectators, including Schneider and Carroll watching closely with significant questions at the quarterback position, Heisman Trophy finalist C.J. Stroud threw in front of scouts after bypassing the opportunity to do so at the NFL combine. Projected top-10 pick Paris Johnson also had no shortage of suitors watching him like hawks, though the Seahawks themselves were set at the tackle position after drafting Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas one year prior.
But as Schneider took a close gander at Ohio State’s rich stable of pro prospects at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, nobody shined on the field during athletic testing, on-field drills, and post-workout interviews more than receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Wowed by his skill set and character, the renowned executive left the building with the belief Seattle didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of him lasting on the board for the team to select with the 20th overall pick.
“I remember being at the Pro Day that day,” Schneider recalled. “And we were like, there's no way we're going to [draft him] - why are we meeting with this guy?”
Seahawks Maintain Present/Future Cap Flexibility Amid Receiver Spending Spree
Kicking off a busy Monday in late March with a bang, the Seattle Seahawks worked swiftly to reward Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba with a record-setting extension, making the superstar receiver the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history with a four-year, $168.6 million contract.
Only a few hours later, weeks after locking up speedy wideout/return specialist Rashid Shaheed a three-year, $51 million contract on the first day of free agency, general manager John Schneider dipped even more financial assets into the receiver group, as the Seahawks opted to match the Jaguars’ two-year offer sheet for special teams ace Jake Bobo. Between those three contracts, the franchise has shelled out north of $220 million at the position this month, including over $120 million in guarantees for Smith-Njigba’s market-setting extension.
Adding those three deals with veteran Cooper Kupp’s remaining two years with base salaries of $12.9 and $12.4 million, per Spotrac, Seattle has a league-high $83 million in combined average annual value (AAV) at the receiver spot in 2026 and nearly equaling that total at $78 million in 2027. In both seasons, they sit at least $6 million ahead of the next team behind them, illustrating tremendous investment in the position compared to the rest of the NFL.
Seahawks Reward Jaxon Smith-Njigba With Record-Breaking Extension
Striking a deal early in free agency with a contract extension being a top priority for the organization, the Seattle Seahawks have locked up one of their biggest foundational pieces for the next half decade.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Seahawks and superstar receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba have agreed to terms on a four-year, $168.6 million mega deal worth a record-setting $42.15 million per year. Under the terms of the contract, he will also receive more than $120 million in guarantees, the most ever for a wideout in NFL history.
Enjoying a historic breakout in his third season with the Seahawks and more than earning his market-setting contract, the 24-year-old Smith-Njigba emerged as one of the league’s best weapons for the eventual Super Bowl champions, snagging 119 receptions for an NFL-best 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns from quarterback Sam Darnold. Per TruMedia, he finished with 42 explosive receptions, seven more than any other receiver in the league, while posting a remarkable 35.3% explosive reception rate on a whopping 163 targets.
Fifth-Year Option Opens Gateway for Seahawks to Extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon
In 2023, the Seattle Seahawks possessed two first round picks in the NFL draft thanks to the Russell Wilson trade with the Denver Broncos. They used their fifth overall pick on cornerback Devon Witherspoon out of Illinois. 15 picks later, they look Ohio State star receiving Jaxon Smith-Njigba at No. 20, double-dipping on Big Ten prospects.
Witherspoon has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons and was instrumental in the Seahawks beating the Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Meanwhile, Smith-Njigba emerged as one of the best receivers in the NFL. In 2025, his NFL-high 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns earned himself Offensive Player of the Year, the first Seahawk to earn the honor since Shaun Alexander in 2005.
Not surprisingly, the Seahawks are extremely motivated to keep both stars in Seattle long-term, and now, the first shoe has dropped in that effort. On Friday, Seattle picked up the fifth-year option on both players, by virtue of them being first round picks. They were the first team to do so for members of the 2023 draft class, well ahead of the May 1 deadline.
Seahawks Need Not Think Twice Making Jaxon Smith-Njigba ‘Highest Paid’ Receiver
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba established himself as one of, if not the best wideout in the entire NFL in 2026. The Ohio State product led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards (a Seahawks franchise record and the eighth-highest single-season totals in league history). He averaged 15.1 yards per reception and had consistent big-play production (ten 100+ yard games). This earned him AP Offensive Player of the Year, first-team All-Pro honors, and a Pro Bowl nod, one of the most decorated seasons by any Seahawks player ever.
At just 24 years old, Smith-Njigba is a former first-round pick (No. 20 overall in 2023) who has rapidly ascended to superstar status. Soon, he will be paid like one.
John Schneider, Seahawks Back to Business Fresh Off Super Bowl Title at NFL Combine
Capturing the ultimate prize in professional sports in Santa Clara, John Schneider and the Seattle Seahawks made the most of their opportunity to bask in the limelight as Super Bowl champions earlier this month, including celebrating with nearly a million fans in downtown in a parade for the ages as they stood atop the NFL world.
But eventually, the confetti disappears and the suds stop flowing. After climbing back to the mountaintop for the second time in franchise history, it’s time for Schneider, coach Mike Macdonald, and the Seahawks to get back to work with sights on defending their title, and that process officially starts with the annual NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis this week.
From the outside, the combine draws the most attention for the measurements and athletic testing that takes place in Lucas Oil Stadium as more than 300 NFL hopefuls descend upon the Circle City, and the league milks that process with live televised workouts starting on Thursday. But for Schneider, Macdonald, and the rest of Seattle’s brass that flies in for the festivities, while they will be monitoring the testing process closely and value athleticism as much as anyone, it’s far from the most important business to tend to.
Sam Darnold Completes Redemption Arc as Seahawks Secure Super Bowl Title
Sam Darnold, Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
A few years ago, the phrase sounded absurd. Once considered a draft bust in the city where quarterbacks never seem to succeed, Darnold felt blue and green confetti rain down on his red hair on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, where his Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 29-13 to win Super Bowl LX.
Rapid Reaction: Seahawks ‘Darkside’ Defense Handcuffs Patriots in 29-13 Super Bowl LX Victory
Orchestrating one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history, the Seattle Seahawks forced eight punts on their first nine defensive series, locking down the New England Patriots in historic fashion to secure a 29-13 victory and bring the second Lombardi Trophy to the Pacific Northwest.
Overcoming an uncharacteristically inaccurate performance from Sam Darnold, the Seahawks found more than enough offense behind AJ Barner’s 16-yard touchdown catch off a turnover, Ken Walker III’s 135 rushing yards, and five field goals from kicker Jason Myers. A suffocating defensive effort by coach Mike Macdonald’s squad bottled up and frazzled Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, with outside linebacker Derick Hall leading the charge sacking him twice and forcing a fumble that defensive tackle Byron Murphy II recovered in New England territory and Uchenna Nwosu returning an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to start the celebration.
12 Reasons Seahawks Will Win Super Bowl LX
Some might say this is like Christmas Eve. It’s better. Why? Christmas is reliable. It comes every year, rain, snow, or shine.
Your favorite team in the Super Bowl? Absolutely not.
The season in which the Seattle Seahawks celebrated their 50th campaign as a franchise, they are competing for their second Lombardi Trophy.
So here we are. Like Pippin in the Lord of the Rings, finding it worse to sit on the edge of a battle one could not escape. Thanos said, “Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same.”
Destiny knocks on the Seahawks’ door tomorrow. Will they open the door, and let it in?
Analysis: 7 Burning Questions to Determine if Seahawks Will Win or Lose Super Bowl LX
After nearly two weeks of relentless coverage and chatter that has left fans on both sides experiencing a bad case of cabin fever, the Seattle Seahawks will finally hit the field with a chance to avenge a previous Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots as the two teams meet at Levis Stadium in Sunday’s big game.
With both teams boasting top-three scoring offenses and physical, well-coached defenses, Sunday has all of the ingredients for a back-and-forth brawl on the biggest stage in professional sports. To earn their second Lombardi, the Seahawks will have to hope for the right answers to seven burning questions.
Sam Darnold, Seahawks Aiming to Stay Step Ahead of Patriots’ Evolving Defense in Super Bowl LX
Playing the quarterback position in the NFL has long been viewed as the most difficult job in professional sports, a fact that only has been magnified in recent years by the increasing complexity of defensive schemes around the league.
For decades, signal callers leaned heavily on half field reads post-snap to identify and attack coverages, providing a simplified approach that worked quite effectively against static defenses. However, in the modern NFL, while that approach has not been completely discarded and still has a time and place, the proliferation of well-disguised coverages has put a lot more on quarterback’s plates, making it far trickier to gauge whether an opposing defense is in man coverage, split-zone coverage with the middle of field open, or closed-zone coverage with the middle of the field occupied.
Early on his career, like all young quarterbacks who have to adapt and learn how to successfully attack complicated NFL defenses built around the art of - or at least the guise of - deception, Sam Darnold endured plenty of growing pains coming out of USC as a highly-touted top-five draft choice.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is Headliner of Seahawks’ Passing Attack, Not the Whole Act
Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards despite playing in an offense that ranked middle of the pack in pass attempts in 2025. But that doesn’t mean this offense is a one-trick pony going into Super Bowl LX.
Closing Thoughts: Sam Darnold’s Historic Performance Lifts Seahawks to Super Bowl LX
Leading the charge with a near-perfect effort under center, Sam Darnold willed the Seahawks to their fourth Super Bowl in franchise history by outdueling Matthew Stafford in front of a boisterous Lumen Field crowd.
Sam Darnold’s ‘High-Powered Quarterbacking’ Silences Doubters, Vaults Seahawks Into Super Bowl
He can’t make the clutch throws. He can’t avoid turnovers. He can’t help seeing ghosts. Now an NFC Champion quarterback, narratives that followed Sam Darnold from dreary days in New York have finally been exterminated leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.
Rapid Reaction: Sam Darnold, Seahawks Engineer Super Bowl Berth With 31-27 Win vs. Rams
Holding on in a tight battle that played out as advertised, the Seahawks leaned on Sam Darnold’s throwing arm and a well-rounded passing attack to edge the Rams and punch a ticket to the Super Bowl for the first time in 11 years.
Halftime Observations: Explosive Plays Lead Seahawks to 17-13 Lead in Thrilling NFC Title Game
Engaged in a back-and-forth affair with a Super Bowl spot on the line, the Seahawks and Rams traded scores in a thrilling first half with a gunslinging Sam Darnold putting the home team in front right before halftime. Who stood out in the first 30 minutes at Lumen Field?
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