Seahawks’ Cap Situation: How Seattle’s Front Office is Positioned Heading Into a Crucial Offseason
The Seahawks are back in the postseason, and they’re not easing into it. A high-stakes rematch with the San Francisco 49ers awaits in primetime this Saturday - a win-or-go-home clash with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line. But while fans are understandably locked in on the playoff picture, the front office has another battle brewing behind the scenes: managing the 2026 salary cap.
With the details of Charles Cross’s extension now public, we’re starting to get a clearer picture of what Seattle’s financial landscape looks like heading into the offseason. And for a team that’s trying to build on a playoff core while staying competitive in a loaded NFC, every dollar matters.
Starting Point: $76.6M in Cap Space
According to OverTheCap.com, the Seahawks are currently projected to have $76.6 million in cap space for 2026. That figure includes about $15 million rolled over from the 2025 season - a helpful cushion, but not the whole story.
Before the team can even think about big splashes in free agency or locking up key contributors long-term, they’ve got to fill out the roster. As of now, only 42 players are under contract for 2026. And with 53 spots on the active roster plus 16 on the practice squad, there’s still a lot of work to do.
Even if Seattle took the bare-bones approach - signing only undrafted rookies at the league minimum with no signing bonuses - it would still cost $885,000 per player to round out the 53-man roster. That’s $9.735 million just to meet the minimum, bringing the cap space down to roughly $67.2 million.
The Proven Performance Escalator Kicks In
Next up: contract escalators. Under the CBA, players from the 2023 draft class can earn raises through the Proven Performance Escalator (PPE) if they’ve logged significant playing time or made a Pro Bowl.
For second-round picks, the threshold is 60% of offensive or defensive snaps either cumulatively over three years, or in two of the first three seasons. For players drafted in the third round or later, that threshold drops to 35%.
Here’s how Seattle’s 2023 draft class stacks up:
- Derick Hall (2.37) - Did not qualify
- Zach Charbonnet (2.52) - Did not qualify
- Anthony Bradford (4.108) - Qualified
- Cameron Young (4.123) - Did not qualify
- Mike Morris (5.151) - Did not qualify
- Olusegun Oluwatimi (5.154) - Did not qualify
- Jerrick Reed (6.198) - Did not qualify
- Kenny McIntosh (7.237) - Did not qualify
Bradford’s bump is significant. His 2026 base salary jumps from $1.145 million to $3.453 million - a $2.308 million increase that brings the Seahawks’ available cap space down to just about $65 million.
Restricted Free Agents and Tender Decisions
Seattle also has several restricted free agents (RFAs) to address. The team has three tender options to retain rights to these players:
- Right of First Refusal (ROFR): $3.453 million
- Second-Round Tender: $5.658 million
- First-Round Tender: $7.893 million
Here’s the list of RFAs:
- Cody White
- Brandon Pili
- Brady Russell
- Drake Thomas
- Jake Bobo
- Chris Stoll
- A.J. Finley
Russell, Thomas, and Stoll are the most likely to receive ROFR tenders. That doesn’t necessarily mean Seattle’s paying each of them $3.453 million in 2026.
The ROFR tender comes with no guaranteed money, which gives the team leverage to negotiate multi-year extensions at more favorable terms. That’s especially relevant for guys like Stoll and Russell, who’ve carved out valuable roles on special teams.
Drake Thomas, on the other hand, has shown enough at linebacker to justify the full ROFR tender - especially if the team sees him as a long-term pairing next to Ernest Jones.
Factoring in the net cost of those three tenders (after subtracting the rookie minimum salaries they replace), Seattle is looking at another $7.704 million off the books. Cap space now sits around $57.3 million.
Draft Class: Small but Costly
As of now, the Seahawks hold just four draft picks in 2026. Signing those picks is projected to cost $6.739 million in cap space - assuming Seattle ends up with the final pick in the first round. If they fall short of a Super Bowl run, that number could go up slightly.
But again, what matters is the net impact. Those four rookies will replace four players earning the rookie minimum, so the true cap hit is closer to $3.2 million. That brings available space down to just above $54 million.
Practice Squad and Injury Reserve Pool
Before Seattle can start spending that $54 million, there are a few more boxes to check. The practice squad - 16 players at $13,750 per week - will cost about $4.5 million over a full season, including gameday elevations. Add in a modest injury replacement pool, and the Seahawks realistically have around $45 million in usable cap space heading into the offseason.
That’s a healthy number, but it won’t go as far as some might think. Between re-signing key veterans, exploring the free agent market, and potentially extending core players, the front office will need to be strategic.
The Big Picture
Seattle’s cap situation is in a solid place, and that’s no accident. Smart drafting, manageable contracts, and a bit of rollover from last year have put the Seahawks in position to be flexible.
But flexibility doesn’t mean frivolous spending. With about $45 million in real cap space, every move will need to align with the long-term vision.
But before any of that unfolds, there’s a playoff game to win. The Seahawks are heading into Levi’s Stadium with their season on the line - and if they can knock off the 49ers, the conversation shifts from cap space to championship windows in a hurry.