Seahawks Free Agency Tracker: Re-signings, Departures, and Rumors
Officially opening the new NFL league year, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams will be jockeying for position to sign their own players and court outside free agents when the legal tampering period opens on Monday at 9 AM PT.
Unlike previous seasons, including when linebacker Ernest Jones and defensive tackle Jarran Reed struck deals late in the process leading up to the new league year, Seahawks general manager John Schneider has not signed any of the team’s nine unrestricted free agents prior to the tampering period. As a result, all of those players will now be able to speak with other teams with the exclusive negotiating window coming to a close.
Who will Seattle re-sign? Which players will bolt for greener pastures? And which newcomers will join the defending champs via free agency or trade?
Seahawks Lose Super Bowl MVP as Ken Walker III Bolts for Chiefs
Riding the wave of momentum created by winning Super Bowl LX MVP for the Seattle Seahawks last month, Ken Walker III has cashed in to team up with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and as confirmed on social media by the player himself, Walker will take his talents to the Chiefs backfield, signing a three-year deal worth up to $45 million as part of the highest-paid contract for a free agent running back in NFL history. Under terms of the deal, he will receive $28.7 million guaranteed.
Finishing his tenure in Seattle with a bang, Walker put the Seahawks on his back during the second half and postseason, rushing for 868 yards, six touchdowns, and 4.8 yards per carry in his final 12 games, including three touchdowns in a 41-6 beatdown of the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. That dominant stretch culminated with the former second round pick out of Michigan State torching the Patriots for 135 rushing yards in Super Bowl LX to earn MVP honors, making him the hottest backfield commodity heading towards free agency.
Analysis: Predicting How Seahawks’ 2026 Free Agency Period Will Unfold
Beginning their title defense a little over a month after capturing the Super Bowl LX crown, the Seattle Seahawks will have no shortage of challenging decisions to make with the start of a new league year on March 11 and other teams looking to steal several marquee players from their roster in free agency.
Will general manager John Schneider be able to keep most of Seattle’s big name free agents and run it back in 2026? Or will Ken Walker III, Rashid Shaheed, and others bolt with more lucrative opportunities elsewhere? And could a few big splashes be on tap supplementing the roster without outside free agents?
Seahawks’ Odds of Re-signing Ken Walker III Dwindle Following Breece Hall Franchise Tag
The legal tampering period leading up to the start of a new NFL league year remains six days away, but the chances of Ken Walker III returning to the Seattle Seahawks took a significant hit on Tuesday thanks to an expected move made by the New York Jets with their own star running back.
According to Connor Hughes of SNYTV, the Jets have placed the franchise tag on running back Breece Hall, eliminating the possibility of the former second round pick hitting the market when free agency opens on March 11. Under the terms of the fully-guaranteed tender, he would earn $14.23 million in 2026, which would be the fifth-highest cap number among backs next season.
Continuing to negotiate during last week’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, New York tried to hammer out a long-term deal with Hall to avoid having to use the exclusive tag, but the two sides weren’t able to reach an agreement. The organization considered using the transition tag, which would have been a bit cheaper at $11.32 million, but other teams were expected to make a run at him offering more money with the risk of losing the standout runner without compensation in return, leading to the choice to franchise tag him instead.
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.
Free Agent Primer: Will Seahawks Open Up Checkbook to Re-Sign Ken Walker III?
With a new league year slated to kick off on March 11, the Seahawks have nine unrestricted free agents scheduled to test the market along with seven restricted free agents and two exclusive rights free agents. Compared to prior seasons, general manager John Schneider has more financial flexibility at his disposal with OverTheCap.com listing the franchise as sixth in available effective cap space ($62 million), but with several big name stars in line for extensions such as All-Pro receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the team won’t be able to keep everyone after running the table to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Over the next several weeks, using statistics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and TruMedia, I will break down each and every one of the Seahawks' unrestricted free agents by revisiting their 2025 seasons, assessing why they should or should not be re-signed, breaking down an ideal contract, and making an early prediction on whether or not the player will return in 2026.
Launching the annual series, Ken Walker III couldn’t have possibly improved his value more than he did during a remarkable playoff run that culminated with a Super Bowl MVP. Will the Seahawks pony up the cash to keep their explosive back? Or did his postseason performance ultimately price him out of Seattle’s plans?
Analysis: How Does Zach Charbonnet Injury Impact Seahawks’ Offseason Game Plan?
Winning the Super Bowl in the NFL requires a talented roster and strong coaching. But teams that make it all the way to the mountaintop also need good fortune, particularly when it comes to injuries.
Capturing the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in franchise history earlier this month, the Seattle Seahawks checked off all three of those boxes. General manager John Schneider assembled the deepest, most talented roster in the league with coach Mike Macdonald and a fantastic staff maximizing on that talent, and health-wise, the team suffered far fewer significant injuries than other playoff teams.
With that said, the Seahawks didn’t escape the season without a substantial injury happening in the playoffs as they orchestrated their run to the Super Bowl, as standout running back Zach Charbonnet suffered a torn ACL in a 41-6 Divisional Round beatdown of the 49ers. There’s never a good time for such an injury to occur, but in the case of Charbonnet, blowing out his knee so late in the season creates a conundrum that the organization will have to navigate heading into free agency and the upcoming NFL draft.
Analysis: Ranking Riq Woolen, Seahawks Projected 2026 Free Agents
Now officially in offseason mode after capturing a Super Bowl title for the second time in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks have several big questions to answer on the free agency front with a new league year set to begin on March 11.
Compared to prior offseasons, the Seahawks have a quite healthy financial situation, as OverTheCap.com has them currently with $62 million in effective cap space, the sixth-most in the NFL. But at the same time, in addition to 16 unrestricted and restricted free agents, general manager John Schneider has several young stars now eligible for extensions, including All-Pro receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, inevitably meaning that the franchise won’t be able to keep everyone set to hit the market next month.
Looking at Seattle’s projected unrestricted and restricted free agents, who stands out as the players Schneider and company should prioritize re-signing?
Analysis: What Would Re-Signing Ken Walker III Look Like For Seahawks?
The Super Bowl MVP trophy is freshly etched with Ken Walker III’s name after his heroics in Super Bowl LX. His 135 rushing yards against the Patriots earned him the first Super Bowl MVP for a running back since Terrell Davis in 1998.
Now, he is set to be a free agent. He certainly enters the market on the highest of high notes, rushing for a whopping 313 yards in three playoff games, including three rushing touchdowns in that blowout win over the 49ers in the Divisional Round. He amassed 771 scrimmage yards, averaged 5.2 yards per carry, and scored five touchdowns across Seattle's final six games overall.
Needless to say, Walker has some negotiating leverage and the Seahawks have plenty of motivation to bring him back.
‘We Ain’t Going Nowhere’: Seahawks Already Planting Seeds in Quest for Super Bowl Repeat
Less than 72 hours after navy and action green confetti fluttered to the turf at Levis Stadium following a 29-13 demolition of the New England Patriots, while the Seattle Seahawks celebrated their second Super Bowl title with a frenzied fan base both at Lumen Field and during a parade in downtown on Wednesday, they already have their sights set on doing it again next season.
Wearing a t-shirt depicting teammate Sam Darnold smoking a cigar and once again singing effusive, explicit praise about Seattle’s quarterback from the podium with a sparkling Lombardi Trophy in hand, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones made sure to remind fans and the rest of the league that the team “ain’t going nowhere.”
"Not only do we have the best defense in the world, we've got the best team in the world," Jones said, “And quite frankly, if you've got anything to say about my quarterback, if you've got anything to say about my defense, if you've got anything to say about our O-line, if you've got anything to say about the city of Seattle, I've got two words for you: F--- you.”
‘Surreal Moment’: Ken Walker III Caps Off Historic Run for Seahawks With Super Bowl MVP
Long before he took his talents to the NFL, Ken Walker III torched his local brethren on the gridiron in the Pee Wee league in Arlington, Tennessee, leaving more than just a host of helpless defenders in his wake.
With each step explosive step he took, Walker’s cleats lit up, leaving a glowing, blurred trail as he rocketed down the field. Racing past the opposition with his speed and quicks while his feet emulated a Lite Brite, he earned the nickname “Thunder Shoes,” which stuck with him all the way up through his prep career at Arlington High School.
Fast forwarding nearly a decade later, Walker harkened back memories of such Pee Wee dominance, only managing to do so on the biggest stage in Super Bowl LX at Levis Stadium. Zigging and zagging through a Patriots defense that struggled to get him to the ground all night as he racked up 135 yards and five yards per rush, all that was missing was the light up cleats as he starred in the Seahawks’ 29-13 victory and garnered MVP honors, becoming the first running back in 28 years to accomplish the feat.
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.
Halftime Observations: Defenses Dominate as Seahawks Lead Patriots 9-0 in Super Bowl LX
With the Lombardi Trophy hanging in the balance, points will apparently be at a premium in Super Bowl LX as the Seattle Seahawks went into halftime nursing a slim 9-0 lead over the New England Patriots behind three Jason Myers field goals and a stingy, suffocating defensive effort.
What stood out from the first two quarters at Levis Stadium?
1. Ken Walker III runs like a Lamborghini on the Levis grass, but the Seahawks can’t get the car into the garage.
Playing in what could be his final game in a Seahawks uniform as free agency approaches next month, a motivated Walker revved up his engine and turned on the accelerators early and often, regularly leaving Patriots defenders in his wake after smooth, explosive cuts and filthy jump cut moves. On the first play from scrimmage, he bounced an inside zone run out wide to the perimeter, out-running multiple defenders towards the sideline before cutting upfield for a 10-yard gain to move the chains, helping start off a successful opening series that ended with Myers’ first field goal from 33 yards out.
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.
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.
‘Getting Into a Groove’: How Ken Walker III, Seahawks’ Emerging Run Game Fueled Super Bowl Run
The Seahawks hung tough in a tight NFC West race for much of the 2025 season behind Sam Darnold’s arm and a stingy “Darkside” defense. But no development has been bigger in the pursuit of a Lombardi Trophy than Ken Walker III and a mauling line finding their groove.
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.
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?
Keys to Victory: How Seahawks Can Punch Ticket to Super Bowl LX
Playing in the final four for the first time in 11 years, the Seahawks hope to keep a storybook season going with a grudge match against the Rams on tap in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. What must Mike Macdonald’s squad do to advance to Super Bowl LX?
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