Seahawks’ Odds of Re-signing Ken Walker III Dwindle Following Breece Hall Franchise Tag
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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images [/caption]
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.
The Jets’ decision on Hall will set the market for top running backs entering this free agent cycle, and no team may be impacted more by that development than the Seahawks, who had been hoping to bring back Walker. General manager John Schneider has been in contact with the Super Bowl LX MVP’s representatives in recent weeks, but a deal hasn’t come together and now, the price point to retain him may be well beyond the team’s means with several other notable free agents to re-sign and looming extensions for receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
Speaking with sources from two teams expected to court Walker when the tampering period opens on March 9, the franchise tag value on Hall’s one-year deal hovering around $13 to $14 million likely will be the sweet spot for annual salary to sign the former Michigan State star. Seattle has the cap space to be able to pay that price, but the team currently isn’t expected to offer more than $10 million per year and won’t be matching the Jets by franchising him either, instead prioritizing signing other pending free agents and ear-marking money for Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon’s signing bonus, which would be paid in part in 2026.
Barring a change in tactics before next week, without the franchise tag being an option due to the organization not wanting a $14-plus million cap hit on the books before free agency kicks off, Schneider is expected to pivot his attention away from pursuing a new contract for Walker towards other free agent running backs who better fit into the team’s budgetary plans, including Atlanta’s Tyler Allgeier and San Francisco’s Brian Robinson, who played for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury last season. As expected, the team has been taking long looks at several prospects from this year’s draft class with eyes on finding a long-term successor for Walker as well.
Trading for a back such as De’Von Achane of the Dolphins could also be on the table, though the Seahawks only have four draft picks in 2026, which makes that possibility far less plausible unless the deal involves a future draft pick instead.
Making matters more complicated short-term for Seattle in a post-Walker world, Zach Charbonnet underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL on February 20, starting his recovery process even later than expected after suffering the injury on January 17. The fourth-year back likely won’t be back in action until mid-October at the absolute earliest and could potentially miss even more time, leaving the Seahawks with a dearth of experience in the backfield as currently constructed.
If Walker departs for greener pastures as anticipated, Seattle will have George Holani, Kenny McIntosh, Cam Akers, Velus Jones Jr., and Jacardia Wright as the only healthy backs on the roster with Charbonnet guaranteed to open next season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. From that group, only Akers - who did not log a single carry last season - has previous NFL starting experience. Holani has flashed in limited action as a reserve but hasn’t started any games, while McIntosh will be coming off a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2024 season and has never started a regular season game either.
From that stable of backs, Holani may be the front runner to carve out a bigger role for the Seahawks in 2026. He rushed for 73 yards on 22 carries last season, but he made some big plays in the postseason, catching four passes for 34 yards and holding up well picking up blitzes in pass protection, showing off the three-down skill set the team needed without Charbonnet healthy. McIntosh played well in limited action in 2024, rushing 31 times for 172 yards, and if he’s all the way back from his knee injury, he shouldn’t be counted out as a viable change of pace option either.
As is always the case in free agency, Schneider will be monitoring the status of Walker along with other noteworthy free agents from the defending champions, keeping offers on the table in case the market doesn’t materialize as expected. But at this juncture with less than a week until the free agency madness begins, all signs point to the franchise having a new lead back next summer, whether that’s an incumbent like Holani stepping in or a newcomer via free agency or the draft taking the reins.
