Wide receiver Jake Bobo will likely be back with the Seattle Seahawks after all.
ESPN’s Field Yates reported the Seahawks tendered Bobo a contract Wednesday. The restricted free agency tender is worth $3.52 million.
Yates’s report of the move came at 12:49 pm ET, which was 11 minutes before the tender deadline. Had the Seahawks not tendered Bobo a deal, he would have reached unrestricted free agency.
On March 3, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the Seahawks didn’t plan to tender Bobo a contract. It’s not clear what changed. But the end result is Bobo probably returning to the Seahawks in 2026.
With the tender offer, Bobo can still negotiate with other NFL teams in free agency. But the Seahawks will have the opportunity to match any contract the receiver gets from another organization.
Bobo had just two catches for 20 yards during 11 regular season games last season. In three campaigns with the Seahawks, he has registered 34 receptions, 323 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
But he’s a key run blocker and special teams contributor. Bobo also made a clutch touchdown catch in the NFC championship victory against the Los Angeles Rams.
Seahawks Tender WR Jake Bobo Contract: Report
It’s important to note that while the Seahawks have “the right of first-refusal” they will not receive draft compensation if Bobo signs elsewhere. So should the wideout get an offer sheet, it will be a strict financial decision for the Seahawks.
But that likely means there’s an increased likelihood Bobo returns to Seattle after he received his tender Wednesday.
The Seahawks didn’t place the tender on Bobo in an effort to get draft capital. They want him back for the 2026 season.
Bobo played a career-low 117 offensive snaps last season. But pundits consider him a strong run blocker (although his pass blocking grade at PFF was far below average in 2025). He also played 134 special teams snaps during last season.
That was also down from what he played in 2024, but maybe the Seahawks see a bigger role for Bobo next season.
Perhaps the Seahawks brass realized that possibility existed after their reported initial decision to allow Bobo to leave as an unrestricted free agent.
But that’s pure speculation at this point. The Seahawks have yet to comment about why they elected to offer Bobo a tendered contract.
Seahawks WR Depth Entering 2026
Bobo is the second wideout the Seahawks brought back before the official start of unrestricted free agency at 1 pm PT Wednesday.
On Monday night, the Seahawks came to terms on a 3-year, $51 million offer with receiver Rashid Shaheed. Seattle acquired Shaheed at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, and he became a key part of the Seahawks offense.
Like Bobo, Shaheed also contributed on special teams. Shaheed returns punts and kickoffs. He scored a punt return touchdown in a comeback victory against the Rams during the regular season.
Shaheed also opened the NFC divisional round versus the San Francisco 49ers with a kickoff return touchdown.
Seattle’s No. 1 receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and veteran Cooper Kupp are also set to return next season. Both receivers are signed through the 2027 season.
Bobo, though, will likely compete with fellow depth receivers — Tory Horton, Velus Jones, Ricky White III, Tyrone Broden and Montorie Foster — for playing time this fall.
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