The Seattle Seahawks are playoff-bound, and while that’s locked in, the road ahead is anything but straightforward. Two major questions loom large: What seed will Seattle land?
(If they win out, they could snag the top spot in the NFC.) And just as importantly, which players from this current roster deserve to be part of the future?
General manager John Schneider has some serious cap flexibility heading into the offseason - over $83 million to work with in 2026, per Spotrac - and that puts Seattle in a strong position to retain key talent. But with several players on expiring rookie deals and others with rising cap hits, the front office has some tough calls to make. Let’s break down the most pivotal contract decisions Schneider and the Seahawks will be facing.
Riq Woolen: Flashy Talent, Frustrating Inconsistency
Riq Woolen is one of the most physically gifted corners in the league, and when he’s on, he looks like a lockdown CB1. But the issue for Seattle is that “when he’s on” hasn’t been consistent enough this season.
Woolen’s projected market value is hovering near $16 million per year over four seasons - a hefty number for a player whose performance has been a rollercoaster. His overall quarterback rating allowed is a respectable 82.5, but in five games this year, that number has spiked above 100. That kind of variance makes it hard to justify top-tier money.
Then there’s the tackling. Woolen has missed a career-high 22.7% of his tackle attempts this season.
And while corners aren’t expected to be elite tacklers, that’s a number that jumps off the page - and not in a good way. Missed tackles can turn short gains into explosive plays, and Woolen’s technique still leaves too much room for error.
He’s only surrendered three touchdowns this year, but all of them came against division rivals - the Rams and 49ers. If those teams have figured out how to exploit him, that’s a concern Seattle can’t ignore.
Boye Mafe: Disruptive Without the Sack Numbers
Boye Mafe is a bit of a mystery. He’s got just one sack this season, which might raise eyebrows. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see a player who’s quietly been one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the league.
Mafe has racked up 36 pressures and is tied for the fifth-best pass-rush win rate in the NFL at 19%, according to ESPN. That’s elite company. He’s consistently collapsing pockets and forcing quarterbacks off their spots - even if it’s not always showing up in the sack column.
The challenge with Mafe is projecting his ceiling. He hasn’t hit double-digit sacks in any season, and while he’s solid against the run and a steady presence on the edge, he hasn’t quite shown that game-wrecking ability that demands a massive payday. Still, he’s clearly a valuable piece of the puzzle - the kind of player who makes the whole defense better, even if he’s not filling up the stat sheet.
Josh Jobe: Scheme Fit or Long-Term Starter?
Josh Jobe has emerged as one of the more intriguing stories on Seattle’s defense. He’s not a household name, and he doesn’t have the flashy numbers, but he’s carved out a significant role in Mike Macdonald’s scheme - even earning reps over Woolen for much of the season.
What stands out with Jobe is his steadiness. He’s reliable in coverage, allowing a quarterback rating of just 76.6 when targeted.
His Pro Football Focus grade might not reflect that (a head-scratching 50.2), but the tape - and the coaching staff - say otherwise. He’s also been strong in run support, bringing a physical edge to the secondary.
The question is whether another team will see his value and try to lure him away with a big offer. Seattle likely won’t want to get into a bidding war, but if the price stays reasonable, Jobe looks like a player worth keeping - especially in a system that clearly suits his skill set.
Cooper Kupp: Leadership Has Value, But So Does Cap Space
This one’s tricky. Cooper Kupp is a respected veteran, a locker room leader, and one of the best blocking wideouts in the league.
He does the little things that don’t always show up in the box score but matter on Sundays. That said, the financial picture is hard to ignore.
Kupp’s cap hit is set to jump from $9.4 million this season to $17.5 million in 2026. That’s a steep climb for a receiver who’s currently putting up WR3 numbers - 44 catches, 558 yards, and two touchdowns. He’s catching over 72% of his targets, which speaks to his efficiency, but he’s no longer the focal point of the passing game.
If Seattle brings back Rashid Shaheed and gets a healthy Tory Horton back next year, Kupp could slide even further down the depth chart. At that point, you’re looking at a very expensive WR4 - and that’s a tough pill to swallow, even for a player who brings so much off the field.
Kenneth Walker: Explosive, But Still Searching for Consistency
Kenneth Walker is on the verge of his second 1,000-yard season, needing just a couple more solid outings to get there. He’s averaging 4.6 yards per carry - nearly a full yard better than last year - and he’s doing it while staying healthy for the first time in his career.
But Walker remains a classic boom-or-bust back. In three games this season, he’s averaged over 8 yards per carry.
In five others, he’s been held to 3.4 or less. When he’s hot, he’s electric.
When he’s not, the offense can stall.
At 25, Walker is still young, and his durability this season is a big plus. His projected market value is around $9.1 million per year on a four-year deal.
That’s a reasonable number, but the length of the contract might give the Seahawks pause. Running backs age fast in this league, and committing long-term money - even to a talented one - is always a calculated risk.
The Bottom Line
Seattle has a rare opportunity this offseason: a playoff team with cap flexibility and a young core. But the decisions Schneider makes in the coming months will shape the roster for years to come.
Players like Woolen and Mafe have high ceilings but come with question marks. Jobe and Kupp bring value in different ways, but at very different price points.
And Walker’s explosiveness makes him a weapon - if he can find more consistency.
The Seahawks are positioned to compete now and build for the future. But how they navigate these contract calls will go a long way in determining whether they stay on that upward trajectory or hit a plateau. One thing’s for sure - the decisions won’t be easy, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.