Kenneth Walker: Everything you need to know

Walker is set to sign with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. On the heels of his MVP effort in Super Bowl LX, Walker is slated to move on to Kansas City, where he'll immediately slot in as the Chiefs' top backfield option. Meanwhile, Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, who paced the team's group of RBs in 2025, are headed to free agency, so who will work behind Walker this coming season remains to be seen. With star QB Patrick Mahomes bouncing back from a major knee injury that he sustained in mid-December, Walker figures to be a focal point of Kansas City's offense out of the gate in 2026. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Walker is getting a three-year deal from the Chiefs worth up to $45 million, including $28.7 million fully guaranteed.

The Seahawks officially did not extend Walker a franchise tag prior to Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports. Walker remains slated to hit free agency at the start of the new league year March 11, unless he and Seattle are able to agree to terms on a long-term deal prior to that date. The Super Bowl LX MVP figures to garner significant interest on the market, though with Zach Charbonnet (knee) recovering from an ACL tear suffered in January, it also stands to reason that the Seahawks would be highly interested in facilitating his return. What remains to be see is whether such a contract is feasible, with 2023 first-round picks Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon both eligible for extensions this offseason. Walker suited up for all 17 regular-season games for the first time in his career in 2025, rushing 221 times for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, plus a 31-282-0 receiving line (36 targets). Most notably, though, he averaged over 100 rushing yards per game across his three playoff appearances, reaching the end zone four times.

The Seahawks are not expected to extend the franchise tag to Walker, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Seattle has a plethora of positions that will be at risk of attrition following the team's Super Bowl LX victory, and the expectation is that extending star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be a priority, making it unlikely that the team uses the franchise tag in any capacity. Walker, for his part, played a full 17 regular-season games for the first time in his career in 2025, rushing 221 times for 1,027 yards and five scores (4.6 YPC) while securing 31 of 36 targets for 282 receiving yards. He was even more dominant during the postseason, culminating in Super Bowl MVP honors after he carried 27 times for 135 yards versus the Patriots, adding two catches for 26 yards (four targets). While the Seahawks could still attempt to sign Walker to an extension, it may be difficult for the team to compete with the offers interest the 25-year-old running back projects to receive on the open market. Seattle still also has Zach Charbonnet (knee) under contract, though after having suffered an ACL tear in the divisional round his availability for Week 1 is uncertain at best.