The Super Bowl tax is real for the Seattle Seahawks, as the team lost two starters just one hour into NFL free agency. As expected, Kenneth Walker is bolting the Pacific Northwest, but now another teammate is exiting as well.
Seahawks starting cornerback Coby Bryant agreed to terms on a massive new $40 million deal with the Chicago Bears.
“Sources: The Bears and standout S Coby Bryant have agreed to a 3 year $40M, per sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz noted in a March 9, 2026, message on X. “Bryant has 7 INTs over the last two years and has started 34 games during his time with Seattle — amassing 7 forced fumbles and 17 passes defensed.”
As a reminder, new deals cannot be made official until Wednesday, March 11.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest Seahawks news.
CB Coby Bryant Started 18 Games for the Seahawks, Including the Super Bowl, in 2025
Prior to his exit, Bryant started 37 games for the Seahawks, highlighted by three NFL playoff games, including the Super Bowl. Bryant started 18 games (15 regular season contests) for Seattle during the 2025 season.
It is a bit of a surprise for Seahawks fans as the latest buzz hinted that Bryant was likely to re-sign with Seattle.
“The Seahawks will attempt to re-sign safety Coby Bryant, one of the hotter names on the defensive side of the market,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on the eve of NFL free agency. “He has interest in returning to Seattle but will have other suitors.”
The Seahawks Are Projected to Have More Than $58 Million in Cap Space Amid NFL Free Agency
It is not all bad news for the Seahawks as the team is projected to have $58 million in cap space, the sixth most in the NFL, per Spotrac. Seattle will have to quickly pivot to other veterans and the upcoming NFL draft in order to find replacements for Bryant, Walker and potentially other players departing in free agency.
The Seahawks have plenty of money to spend but want to be prudent with stars like Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba eventually headed for massive new deals.
Could the Seahawks Also Lose Former Pro Bowl CB Riq Woolen?
Another name to watch in Seattle is former Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen. Are the Seahawks in danger of losing another cornerback?
After a slow start to the season, Woolen bounced back for Seattle, but each game is a complicated ride for the 12s watching the veteran cornerback.
“My sense is that the main impediment to retaining everyone in the secondary would be Woolen’s market,” The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar detailed in a March 2, article titled, “Will Ken Walker III attract a bidding war? What I heard about the Seahawks.” “He’s the No. 26 player on The Athletic’s list of the top free agents and the second-ranked cornerback behind New Orleans’ Alontae Taylor.
“Woolen has fallen out of favor a couple of times, but given how many teams struggled on defense this year due to their lack of competent cornerback play, Woolen, much like Walker, should have multiple suitors.”
Seahawks Dealt Another Blow by Bears on 37-Game Super Bowl Starter in $40 Million Move