Analysis: Ranking Riq Woolen, Seahawks Projected 2026 Free Agents
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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) looks on during the second half against the Minnesota Vikings at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images [/caption]
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? Featuring predicted contract values courtesy of Spotrac for select free agents, here are all 16 players ranked in terms of importance to bring back for 2026 and beyond:
16. AJ Finley (RFA)
Coming off a torn ACL suffered during the preseason last August, the 24-year-old Finley won’t be a top priority to bring back and certainly won’t be receiving an original round tender north of $3 million. But at a veteran’s minimum on a one-year flier deal, assuming he’s fully recovered in time for offseason workouts, his special teams talents could still be an asset for the Seahawks from a depth perspective, especially if the team loses a key safety in free agency.
15. Cody White (RFA)
When White has had his opportunities to play in Seattle while bouncing on and off the active roster, he has made the most of his chances, including catching a 60-yard touchdown in a blowout win over the Commanders in Landover last November and a blocked punt against the Rams one season earlier. He’s a rock solid special teams player who offers size and underrated athleticism to create with the football in his hands, two important traits for a depth receiver to have. With only 11 career catches to his name, the Seahawks won’t place a tender on him, but it would be surprising if he’s not back for offseason workouts on a more team-friendly one-year deal.
14. Chris Stoll (RFA)
In terms of importance, Stoll likely deserves to be higher on this list, as he received All-Pro votes the past two years as one of the best long snappers in the NFL at a position that only tends to draw attention on mistakes. But the Seahawks have never had issues inking players at the position on new contracts in the past and he likely will be a prime candidate for a summer extension after the draft to lock him up for the foreseeable future as part of the team’s top-tier special teams battery in the kick and punt game.
13. Chazz Surratt (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: N/A
Claimed off waivers out of training camp from the 49ers’ roster cuts, Surratt shined as a special teams standout before an ankle injury cost him a large chunk of the second half of the season, regularly blowing up ball carriers on kick/punt coverage and springing rookie returner Tory Horton for a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown with a critical block. Now a seasoned veteran, he should not be expensive to re-sign on a one-year contract and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh will likely be pushing for his return as a core player on multiple units in the third phase of the game.
12. Brandon Pili (RFA)
A successful reclamation project after being jettisoned by the Dolphins two seasons ago, Pili served a key rotational role as a traditional nose tackle for the Seahawks in 2025, setting a career-high with 12 tackles and unexpectedly forcing a fumble on kick coverage. He wound up suiting up for 13 games with a few healthy scratches sprinkled in and with him being a veteran who has floated through waivers before without being claimed, there’s a strong probability Seattle can bring him back on a one-year contract far more affordable than an original round tender exceeding $3 million for next season.
11. Jake Bobo (RFA)
A fan favorite ever since his arrival as an undrafted success story out of UCLA, Bobo’s production hasn’t quite lived up to the hype since a strong rookie season, at least as a pass catcher. With that said, he came through with critical grabs late in the season for the Seahawks, including a touchdown against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. He’s also an underrated member of Harbaugh’s special teams unit, adding insurance punt returner to his repertoire last summer. He’s another restricted free agent who won’t be tendered but has more than enough value to justify re-signing on a separate cap-friendly one-year deal.
10. Dareke Young (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: N/A
Injuries have held Young back for much of his tenure in Seattle, including a lengthy injured reserve stint this past season, and he has rarely pitched in on offense with fewer than 10 career catches to his name. But it can be argued he’s a top-three non-kicker/punter on the Seahawks’ special teams unit, as he’s an excellent open field tackler and at one point led the league in yards per kick return average before his latest injury. Possessing elite athletic tools and enough positional versatility to play out of the backfield, he still has a higher ceiling than Bobo or White, which would make a one-year contract baked with a few incentives a shrewd decision for both parties.
9. Brady Russell (RFA)
One of the most respected players in the locker room, Russell has been a mainstay on Seattle’s special teams ever since coming on board as a waiver wire pickup three seasons ago from Philadelphia, bringing toughness and incredible energy to the coverage and return units. He’s also added fullback to his arsenal, which may be more important moving forward with Robbie Ouzts missing time late in the season with a neck injury. Since he hasn’t been utilized much on offense, he’s likely not a candidate for any restricted free agent tenders, though it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if he landed an original round tender to avoid another team stealing him next month.
8. Josh Jones (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: One year, $3,495,232
Two years removed from his last extended run as a starter, Jones proved to be a substantial upgrade at the swing tackle spot behind Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, playing at a high level replacing Cross for the final three regular season games protecting Sam Darnold’s blind side. Still just 28 years old, the athletic blocker could be a sleeper to generate interest as a starter elsewhere around the league, including reuniting with Klint Kubiak to bolster a poor Raiders offensive line. The Seahawks would love to have him back and if the price is right without any clear starting opportunities out there, investing a bit more money in a stellar backup tackle makes sense.
7. Josh Jobe (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: Three years, $29,221,872
One of several reclamation projects who thrived in Mike Macdonald’s defense over the past couple of years, Jobe climbed off the free agent scrap heap as a waiver wire signing and quickly became a viable starter in Seattle’s secondary, earning himself a new one-year contract last spring with technical precision and physicality on the boundary. Starting 15 games in 2025, he registered 11 pass breakups to go with a career-high in tackles, saving some of his best play for last with two pass deflections in Super Bowl LX. Set to turn 28 years old in April, the former undrafted signee out of Alabama should receive quality offers on the market and it’s possible he could be priced out of a return, but don’t count out a long-term deal with the Seahawks if Riq Woolen departs.
6. Boye Mafe (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: Three years, $36,729,420
Two seasons ago, Mafe appeared to be on the fast track towards stardom when he finished just short of 10 sacks in his sophomore campaign, flashing the traits to be a dynamic quarterback harassing presence for years to come. However, while he has been fairly active creating pressures over the past two seasons, his sack and quarterback hit numbers have dropped off a cliff, including recording only two sacks and four quarterback hits this season, both equaling career-lows. Only 27 years old, he has youth on his side and does have a previous track record of being far more disruptive, which could spike his value on the open market significantly. It’s not impossible he could be back in a Seahawks uniform, but with Derick Hall approaching free agency next offseason, it would likely require him taking a one-year prove it deal to re-establish value rather than a long-term commitment.
5. Drake Thomas (RFA)
Similar to Jobe, Thomas became available on the waiver wire three years ago when the Raiders tried to slip him through to their practice squad, allowing the Seahawks to snatch him. A severe knee injury ended his rookie season prematurely, but after making a remarkable comeback in time for the start of the 2024 season, he started to carve out a situational role on defense for Macdonald’s crew, turning that into a starting job this season alongside Ernest Jones. A play-making missile in all facets, he nearly hit the 100-tackle mark with 3.5 sacks, an interception, and five pass breakups, the type of production that should warrant an original round tender or even a second-round tender north of $5 million to retain him as a crucial piece in the middle of the defense in 2026.
4. Coby Bryant (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: Two years, $28,555,882
With his career functioning like a boomerang since being picked in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Bryant started off as a starting slot corner as a rookie before injuries knocked him out of the starting lineup. Once Macdonald arrived, he impressed with his work ethic and attention to detail, sliding to safety and eventually usurping Rayshawn Jenkins as a starter midway through the 2024 season. He reeled in four interceptions this past season, bringing ball-hawking capabilities to the back end of Seattle’s defense while making marked improvements as a tackler. There’s no question Macdonald would love to keep the versatile ex-Thorpe Award winner in the fold, but Ty Okada’s stellar play in 11 starts last season may lead to the team letting him walk if other teams shell out big bucks to sign him.
3. Rashid Shaheed (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: Three years, $42,380,592
The latest home run trade acquisition by Schneider, Shaheed may not have been overly effective as a receiver after coming over from the Saints at the deadline, but his game-changing special teams heroics played a pivotal role in the team’s eventual Super Bowl title. He returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in a three-game span in the second half, helping propel Seattle to an NFC West title and the top seed, only to make those returns look miniscule in comparison when he opened the Divisional Round with a kickoff taken back to the house for six points. Many pundits have linked him to Kubiak in Las Vegas, and that could very well happen if the Raiders back up the Brinks truck to pay him as a No. 1 receiver. With that said, the Seahawks have never shied away from paying trade deadline prizes and his special teams prowess coupled with game-changing speed on offense that should be unlocked more with another offseason to build chemistry with Darnold could lead to a lucrative deal to stay put.
2. Riq Woolen (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: One year, $8,189,534
Though consistency has been far from his calling card with two different head coaches benching him briefly at different points, Woolen has been one of Seattle’s greatest fifth-round success stories in franchise history. He opened his career tying for the league lead in interceptions as a rookie (six) and finished as a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, following up with five interceptions over the next two seasons. Continuing to make plays on the football in bunches, he wrapped up the past two seasons with 22 total pass breakups, and his tackling seemed to take a big step forward towards the tail end of the 2025 season. Arguably a top-three talent in terms of size and athletic gifts, several teams may throw the bag at him, which creates a conundrum for Schneider and company given his roller coaster play at times. But letting him walk would be incredibly risky with him still having a ridiculously high ceiling and being highly productive from Day 1, making the looming decision on his future a fascinating one to watch play out.
1. Ken Walker III (UFA)
Spotrac Market Value: Four years, $36,041,376
Prior to the final year of his rookie deal, Walker’s status beyond 2025 in a Seahawks uniform seemed murky at best coming off an injury-plagued 2024 campaign where he didn’t even reach 600 rushing yards. But the explosive back found his groove and then some in Kubiak’s offense, benefiting from much-improved line play to turn in a historically great postseason that culminated with a 135-yard performance and a Super Bowl MVP against the Patriots earlier this month. Recently turning 25 years old, he’s in the prime of his career and even if many teams have pivoted away from handing running backs big second contracts, recent production from the likes of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry suggests letting him leave would be a massive mistake. Making the need to retain him even higher on the pecking order, Zach Charbonnet’s ACL tear suffered in January could knock the back out for a big chunk of next season. Schneider will have a line drawn in the sand budget-wise that he won’t cross, but look for him to do everything in his power to keep K9 as the feature back for years to come.
