The confetti has barely settled on the Seattle Seahawks’ second Super Bowl title in four seasons, but the front office is already hard at work shaping the roster for another championship run in 2026. After a dominant 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 8, the franchise faces a whirlwind of decisions—balancing contract guarantees, free agency, and a flurry of reserve/futures signings that will define the offseason.
General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald, fresh off their first parade together, are staring down a pivotal moment. The Seahawks’ league-best defense and explosive special teams were the backbone of their latest title, but keeping that core intact won’t be easy. With roughly $72 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, Seattle is uniquely positioned to retain key contributors while adding fresh talent.
First up in the post-Super Bowl shuffle: contract guarantees and roster bonuses for several high-profile veterans. Quarterback Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal last March after the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Raiders, is set to receive a $15 million roster bonus and see $2.5 million of his $12.3 million base salary become fully guaranteed. Darnold, who pocketed $37.5 million this season (including a $32 million signing bonus and $5.5 million base salary), also earned an extra $4 million in incentives by guiding Seattle deep into the playoffs. His cap number for 2026 will balloon to $37.9 million, but after delivering a Lombardi Trophy, few in Seattle are complaining.
Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, a veteran presence and mentor to breakout star Jaxon Smith-Njigba, faces a critical vesting date as well. Kupp’s $9 million guarantee on his $12.99 million base salary kicks in five days after the Super Bowl. At 33, Kupp’s production dipped to 47 catches for 593 yards and two touchdowns over 16 games, but his blocking, leadership, and football IQ have been invaluable. Smith-Njigba, who was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year, credited Kupp for his development. Still, with a $17.5 million cap hit looming and return ace Rashid Shaheed also a free agent, the Seahawks must weigh sentiment against salary cap realities.
Other key veterans with guarantees vesting include right tackle Abe Lucas ($6.6 million), defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence ($5 million of $8.15 million), linebacker Ernest Jones IV ($5 million of $7.9 million), nose tackle Jarran Reed ($2 million of $5.5 million), and punter Michael Dickson ($2.7 million). Most are expected to stick around, especially after their contributions to the championship campaign.
But the real intrigue lies with Seattle’s extensive free agent class. Super Bowl MVP Ken Walker III headlines the unrestricted free agents after a 1,027-yard regular season and a playoff run for the ages. Analyst Greg Auman of Fox Sports predicts Seattle will prioritize re-signing Walker, noting, “Seattle was a good bet to extend him already, but the injury to Zach Charbonnet should make that more of a priority. Can he clear $10 million a year on a new contract? The Seahawks are a Super Bowl team still somehow ranked in the top five in available cap space for 2026, so it’s hard to imagine them not paying to bring him back as a central part of their offense moving forward.”
Joining Walker on the list of key unrestricted free agents are receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed, cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe, safety Coby Bryant, linebacker Boye Mafe, tackle Josh Jones, receiver Dareke Young, and linebacker Chazz Surratt. Restricted free agents include linebacker Drake Thomas, receiver Jake Bobo, and long snapper Chris Stoll, among others. Exclusive rights free agents Ty Okada and George Holani round out the group.
Analysts expect Seattle to make a strong push to keep its defensive backfield together. Josh Jobe, who was cut by the Eagles before the 2024 season and quickly became a starter in Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense, is projected to command a contract near $10 million annually. “Jobe, 27, was cut by the Eagles before the 2024 season, landed on Seattle’s practice squad and has quickly ascended to an every-game starter in a talented secondary,” wrote Greg Auman. “He re-signed this season for $2 million, but will be closer to $10 million on his next deal as other teams seek to crib from the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense. Two Super Bowls in four seasons doesn’t hurt. Seattle has difficult decisions ahead in their secondary in free agency.”
Riq Woolen, who led the NFL with six interceptions as a rookie in 2022 and has ten-plus passes defended in each of his four seasons, is another top priority. Spotrac estimates his next deal could range from $8 million to $15 million per year. According to Auman, “Woolen has 10-plus passes defended in each of his four NFL seasons. Projections for his next deal are all over the map.”
Rashid Shaheed, a midseason trade acquisition, electrified both the offense and special teams with his speed and versatility. Auman praised Shaheed as “the only NFL player with a punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown, adding another kickoff touchdown in the playoffs. His receiving skills—59 catches for 687 yards and two touchdowns—are a nice bonus, and Seattle will have tough decisions on which impending free agents it can afford to keep. He’s likely to draw $15 million a year from a team that values a return threat and can use him creatively on offense as well.”
To bolster depth and foster competition, the Seahawks also signed 15 players from their practice squad to reserve/futures contracts on February 12 and 13. The list includes running backs Cam Akers, Velus Jones Jr., and Jacardia Wright; receivers Tyrone Broden, Montorie Foster, and Ricky White III; tackle Logan Brown; center Federico Maranges; linebacker Chris Paul Jr., Jamie Sheriff, and Ja’Markis Weston; nose tackles J.R. Singleton and Bubba Thomas; cornerback Tyler Hall; and safety Maxen Hook. Most were on the practice squad or practice squad injured reserve at the end of the season. Notably, veterans Quandre Diggs, Shaquill Griffin, Shemar Jean-Charles, and Courtney Jackson were not retained, likely seeking opportunities elsewhere.
Among the futures signings, Maxen Hook stands out as a potential hidden gem. Michael Hanich of SI.com drew parallels between Hook and previous undrafted standouts like Jake Bobo and Ty Okada. “Of all the players that have the closest characteristics to Bobo is Maxen Hook, a former undrafted player from a non-power five college. Hook is a former first-team All-MAC player and a third-team All-MAC player in his freshman season,” Hanich noted. With free agency looming for safeties Coby Bryant and Ty Okada, Hook could see his role expand in 2026.
As the new league year approaches in March, the Seahawks’ front office will be tested like never before. The challenge? Retain the heart of a championship roster, reward emerging talent, and keep the pipeline stocked with hungry young players ready to make their mark. If the past four seasons are any indication, Seattle’s brain trust is more than up for the task.
The road to a repeat starts now, with every contract, every signing, and every decision building toward another shot at NFL glory.