2026 Seahawks Free Agent Outlook: Re-sign, let walk or tag

by Mitchell Hammon

As we come down from the highs of winning the Super Bowl, we look onto this upcoming season in hopes of winning back to back championships. It does seem likely, as the Seahawks are 6th in cap space and have the capacity to keep all their starters from the 2025 team. But the Seahawks would have to pay market value to keep the squad together. If this year’s free agents don’t want to take a hometown discount, they have the chance to get paid big contracts by other teams. Which I don’t think Schneider is willing to give the bag to his free agents. He seems more willing to address the voids left in the draft and cheaper options in free agency, especially for certain positions that are replaceable.

This years free agents include:

Unrestricted free agents

S Coby Bryant
CB Josh Jobe
T Josh Jones
LB Boye Mafe
WR Rashid Shaheed
LB Chazz Surratt
RB Kenneth Walker III
CB Riq Woolen
WR Dareke Young

Restricted Free Agents

WR Jake Bobo
S A.J. Finley
DT Brandon Pili
TE Brady Russell
LS Chris Stoll
LB Drake Thomas
WR Cody White

I won’t go through each free agent, but each starter and what Seattle should do

Re-sign

RB Kenneth Walker III – The elephant in the room and Super Bowl LX MVP will field many offers in free agency. Seahawks have decided not to place the franchise tag on him and Schneider mentioned at the speech before the parade that Walker was already trying to negotiate a contract. I could see the Seahawks offering Walker a team friendly 2 year contract for $20 million, he would definitely field more and a longer term contract with other RB needy teams like the Kansas City Chiefs or Minnesota Vikings. But is clear Walker wants to stay and run it back in 2026. Zach Charbonnet will be under contract for the 2026 season but could miss time at the start of the season do to his ACL injury in the playoffs, which would leave a void at the start of the 2026 season. Walker has the leverage, but could see him bolting to another team if him and the team can’t come to an agreement.

CB Josh Jobe – Jobe has been an impact player since signing in 2024. He is a tackling machine and was a high impact player on this championship team. Making big plays when it mattered. I don’t see him fielding a huge contract in free agency so would be possible to bring him back on a team friendly deal especially if Seattle lets Tariq Woolen walk.

WR/KR/PR Rashid Shaheed – After acquiring Shaheed in a mid trade season with the Saints, it instantly paid dividends. One of the best returners in the NFL and a huge reason of why Seattle had one of the best special teams in the league. He is huge reason Seahawks beat the Rams in week 16 with a return TD in the 38-37 OT comeback win on TNF, which set up the Seahawks in a position to win the Super Bowl. Set the tone with an opening kickoff TD in a 41-6 beat down of the 49ers in the divisional round. Also emerging as a reliable target for Sam Darnold. Returners don’t field massive contracts in free agency, so should be able to retain Shaheed on a reasonable contract.

LB Drake Thomas – Sealed the 13-3 win in week 18 against the 49ers in Santa Clara with a red zone pick off of George Kittle. Which clinched the NFC West and #1 seed for Seattle. Also an impact player on the 2025 squad and shouldn’t cost the Seahawks a fortune to bring back. My guess on a 1 or 2 year deal.

Tag

I would say Kenneth Walker would have been an ideal candidate for the franchise tag. Since that is not happening and Seattle is not a team that utilizes the tag often, I think no player will be using it this season. I could see an argument for Coby Bryant or Boye Mafe, but Seattle already has a loaded front seven and secondary that the tag money can be utilized elsewhere.

Let Walk

LB Boye Mafe – A high impact player the last few seasons and a draft selection piece of the Russell Wilson trade. Mafe would break out in 2023 with a 9 sack season but would battle injuries in 2024 that impacted his production but would have a 2 sack season with the 8th most pressures in the league in 2025. Seattle is already loaded with pass rushers including Demarcus Lawrence, Derrick Hall and Uchenna Nwosu all under contract for 2026. The only circumstance I see to bring him back is if Demarcus Lawrences retires. Mafe is expected to, according to PFF, to field a 3 year $49 million dollar contract in free agency, more than what the Seahawks are willing to spend. Defense needy teams like the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys would be suitors for Mafe in 2026.

S Coby Bryant – Bryant has been a huge part of the Seahawks defense after winning over the starting job. The past two seasons he has had 7 interceptions and 3 pass break ups. Same reason for Mafe, Seattle would be loaded not only at secondary but at safety. Which already has Julian Love, emerging star Nick Emmanwori and Ty Okada under contract. Bryant would be fielding more money as a free agent than Seattle is willing to pay.

CB Tariq Woolen – Once the steal of the 2022 draft and one of the best corners in the league his rookie season. Woolen has been very hot and cold. Some games he is a shut down corner and others he has gotten burnt. A costly taunting penalty in the NFC Championship I believe killed any chance of him getting a second contract with the team. He proceeded to get burned by Puca Nacua on the very next play for a TD and got smoked again in the Super Bowl by Mack Hollins for a TD to mildy shift the momentum to the Patriots. Seahawks held on to obviously win both games but would have been to blame if they lost. As much as he made big plays for the team, I just don’t see a scenario where the Seahawks pay him the bag with all the inconsistencies. Re-signing Jobe will save the Seahawks more money. Not to mention a lengthy and expensive extension looming for Devon Witherspoon will eat up the cap moving forward.

WR Jake Bobo- I have appreciated his time with team Signing as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA, he has made a lot of clutch plays and crucial catches in many games. Unless he agrees to a low salary extension, I see the Seahawks moving forward. Seattle will most likely make JSN the highest paid receiver in the NFL. In addition to having Cooper Kupp under contract and Torry Horton coming back healthy for 2026, Seattle seems set on the WR position. Also TE AJ Barner emerging as a reliable weapon for Sam Darnold.

Wild Card

TE/FB Brady Russell – Russell proved himself as a reliable FB in Klint Kubiak’s offense and was a captain for the team in Super Bowl LX. Seattle will make a choice on who they want as a starting FB in 2026, him or Robbie Ouzts. I can see him making the 53 man roster again, but reuniting with Kubiak in Las Vegas is also a high likelihood. As of today the team tendered him.

The other guys

S A.J. Finley
DT Brandon Pili
LS Chris Stoll
WR Cody White
T Josh Jones
LB Chazz Surratt
WR Dareke Young

These guys have a chance to be on the 53 man roster next season, these are guys who are at best backups and will have their future decided during training camp/roster cut downs if retained. My guess is a few will be on the practice squad next season.