Richard Sherman thinks the Seahawks are headed toward a more balanced attack in 2026, but not in the way many fans might expect. The former Seattle cornerback, who has long shown he can read an offense as well as he once shut one down, believes the new look under offensive coordinator Brian Fleury will lean more on the passing game than the run-heavy reputation of a Shanahan-style system might suggest.
“I also think they’re going to be more reliant on their passing game... I think they feel really good about what their passing game can become.
And Brian Fleury is going to for sure use these guys. They’re going to run the ball, no question about it.
But I think they’re going to pass the ball around the yard. You got the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, no matter how much the league disrespects him.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming back, and I think he’s going to continue to be a huge factor in this offense. They’re going to go as he goes.”
Sherman’s point is less about volume for one player and more about how Seattle plans to spread the workload. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off a huge season with 1,793 receiving yards, but he was more than a thousand yards ahead of the next Seahawk. That kind of gap usually doesn’t last long, and Sherman expects the offense to look different as defenses adjust to what Seattle showed last year.
That’s where the rest of the receiver group comes in. Fans should expect Cooper Kupp to be more involved overall, and Rashid Shaheed, who was re-signed after arriving via trade last year, should matter again too - especially for what he brought on special teams, even if his role at wide receiver wasn’t as prominent.
The tight ends could also become a bigger part of the picture. AJ Barner caught 52 passes last season and appears set to climb past that mark.
Elijah Arroyo, now in his second year, is the name with the most room to rise if the offense follows the path Sherman sees. Arroyo was drafted to be a receiving threat, but that didn’t really show up last year.
Fleury’s background fits that idea. He has coached tight ends before, and he also learned in the San Francisco system under Kyle Shanahan how to get the most out of that position group. That should give Seattle another layer to work with as it tries to keep defenses guessing.
Sherman’s read is simple: the Seahawks won’t stop running, but they may be more willing to let the ball fly and spread it around. And if he’s right, Seattle’s offense in 2026 could look a lot less predictable than the one opponents studied a year ago.
In Other News...
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Seattle also has to plan for the possibility that he is not part of the early-season mix, which has pushed the spotlight onto rookie running back Jadarian Price. The Seahawks have been evaluating Price as a possible contributor while Charbonnet is sidelined, and how that competition shakes out could shape the teams running game long before Charbonnet is ready to rejoin it. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Fans Just Got Another Reason To Question The NFL Respect
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It is the kind of omission that invites a second look, especially for a coach whose profile has risen alongside a Seattle staff that has already seen one coordinator move on for a new opportunity. Durdes background and low-key style may not make him the loudest name in the room, and he has also had to work in the shadow of Mike Macdonald, but the broader question is whether that keeps a respected defensive mind from getting the same national attention as some of his peers. [Read more 🡒]
How Much Of The Seahawks Cap Space Is Actually Real
With training camp approaching, the Seahawks are carrying a reported salary cap space of about $25.5 million, but the number is not as simple as it looks. A chunk of that money is likely to be spoken for once the season starts, with room needed for the practice squad and for the inevitable injury replacements that every roster ends up requiring.
After those reserves are accounted for, the real flexibility shrinks to a much smaller pool for additions or extensions, which is why the Seahawks have to be careful about how they use it. One name to watch is Devon Witherspoon, whose next contract could become a mid- to late-August conversation if Seattle decides to move on an extension before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]