The Seattle Seahawks have barely had time to let the confetti settle after winning their second Super Bowl, but the NFL calendar doesn’t wait for anyone-not even champions. With free agency looming and key deadlines fast approaching, Seattle’s front office is already shifting gears from celebration to strategy.
Let’s start with the big dates. The window to apply franchise or transition tags opens on February 17, with a March 3 deadline.
Just over a week later, on March 11, the legal tampering period begins-when teams can start negotiating with free agents. That means the Seahawks are entering a crucial stretch with some major decisions to make.
Five core contributors from this Super Bowl squad are set to hit free agency: cornerback Riq Woolen, safety Coby Bryant, edge rusher Boye Mafe, wide receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed, and running back-and Super Bowl MVP-Kenneth Walker III.
And according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, Walker should be priority number one.
“I would actually put [Walker] at the top,” Jeremiah said during an interview with Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk. “Which is surprising. And one of the reasons I say that is because Shaheed’s going to be the hardest to keep of all these guys.”
That’s a bold statement, but it makes sense when you look at the dynamics. Walker didn’t just take home Super Bowl MVP honors-he’s become the engine of Seattle’s offense, a back who can grind out tough yards, break explosive plays, and carry the load when the passing game needs a breather. Locking him in now would give Seattle stability at a position that remains vital, even in today’s pass-happy league.
But Shaheed? That situation’s a little more complicated.
The Seahawks gave up fourth- and fifth-round picks in this year’s draft to acquire the 27-year-old speedster midseason, and he paid immediate dividends. Shaheed returned both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns during the regular season, then opened the playoffs with a house call on the opening kickoff against the 49ers. That kind of special teams production is rare-and game-changing.
Still, there’s a major wrinkle: Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak, Seattle’s offensive coordinator in 2025, was just hired as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Before Seattle, he held the same OC role with the Saints in 2024-where he also worked with Shaheed.
That’s two stops with the same player, and now Kubiak has full control in Vegas. You don’t need a crystal ball to see where this might be heading.
“I love [Shaheed], and I know what you gave up for him and I know the value that he has,” Jeremiah said. “The problem is when your offensive coordinator goes to maybe the most offensively-starved team in the National Football League, and he’s had him at two locations now.”
Translation: Kubiak knows exactly what Shaheed brings to the table, and the Raiders have every reason to make a strong push.
Then there’s the money. Shaheed’s performance down the stretch-especially in the postseason-has likely boosted his market value.
And Seattle has to keep one eye on the future, particularly when it comes to Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The 2025 Offensive Player of the Year is due for a major payday down the line, and that looming extension could make it tougher to go all-in on Shaheed.
“Unless [Shaheed] just so values the winning component that you can get him without going to the top, top, top of the market, I think he’s going to have big offers elsewhere,” Jeremiah added. “And knowing the JSN price tag is coming, I think that one will be the most difficult to get done, even though he might stack up higher on the priority list.”
So where does that leave the Seahawks?
They’re in a classic post-title crunch. The roster is loaded with talent, but the salary cap and league dynamics don’t allow you to keep everyone.
Walker looks like the most realistic-and urgent-re-signing. Shaheed might be a luxury they can’t afford, especially with Kubiak lurking in Vegas and JSN’s extension on the horizon.
The next few weeks will be telling. The Seahawks have momentum, a championship pedigree, and a young core.
But keeping that group together? That’s the real challenge of the offseason.