Seattle’s post-Super Bowl roster planning may be sending a clear signal about Kenneth Walker III’s future. ESPN’S Adam Schefter reported on Feb. 17, 2026 said the Seahawks are unlikely to use the franchise tag on the Super Bowl LX MVP, a move that would carry a $14.1 million one-year cost.
And if Walker reaches the open market, NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks believes Seattle could be ready to pivot quickly, potentially with a Day 2 draft pick.
Seahawks News: Seahawks not expected to franchise tag Kenneth Walker
Walker is coming off the biggest stage imaginable — a Super Bowl win where he took home MVP after rushing for 135 yards and helping power a postseason run in which he totaled 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Still, the franchise tag is a blunt instrument for teams trying to balance multiple priorities. In Seattle’s case, Reuters reported that the Seahawks are focusing on other roster decisions while weighing major extensions — including wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba — which complicates paying top-of-market money at running back on a one-year deal.
The key detail: a tag number north of $14 million essentially forces a team to treat the player like an elite, cornerstone piece for that season. That’s a difficult fit at a position where front offices around the league have increasingly tried to keep costs controlled.
Kenneth Walker III: What Bucky Brooks thinks Seattle will do next
Brooks, reacting to the Walker situation, framed the Seahawks’ approach through a roster-building lens — and a scheme lens.
“Given the depth of the 2026 RB class and the Seahawks’ belief in the Shanahan/Kubiak system, which has always viewed RB as disposable assets, the Walker news is not surprising,” Brooks wrote. “The ‘Hawks will likely target a RB on Day 2 to replace the SB MVP with a younger and cheaper option….”
The timing is what makes that draft prediction feel consequential: Seattle just watched Walker deliver a title, but the business side of the NFL turns fast — especially at running back.
It’s also notable that Seattle’s offense has been tied to Kubiak-family/Shanahan-style principles recently — and even with Klint Kubiak leaving to become the Raiders’ head coach, the league-wide trend Brooks references (cheap backs + fresh legs + plug-and-play production) remains a real part of how teams build.
What it means for Seattle’s offseason (and Walker)
If the Seahawks truly pass on the tag, it doesn’t automatically mean they want Walker gone — it means they’re refusing to lock in a premium one-year price before exploring alternatives.
Here’s what changes immediately:
- Leverage shifts toward the market. Walker’s camp can test what teams will pay for a Super Bowl MVP entering his prime.
- Seattle can shop the draft class. Brooks’ “Day 2 RB” call is essentially a plan to replace production at a fraction of the cost.
- The roster math gets cleaner. Avoiding a $14.1M tag keeps flexibility for extensions and priority re-signings elsewhere.
And if you’re looking for the human element: Walker’s Super Bowl parade moment with GM John Schneider already showed how awkward contract season can get — even right after a championship.
What happens next
The next few weeks will tell the story:
- Tag decision window closes in early March, so Seattle’s stance will become official soon.
- NFL Combine + pre-draft process will sharpen the “Day 2 RB” conversation if Seattle is linked to specific backs.
Seahawks Predicted To Lose Super Bowl Hero in Free Agency