When free agency opened back in March, something unusual happened in Seattle. For over a decade, Seahawks GM John Schneider had built a reputation on patience and prudence-rarely shelling out big money for outside free agents, especially not on long-term deals.
But 2025 marked a shift. Schneider, now working alongside new head coach Mike Macdonald, broke from tradition and opened the checkbook.
And so far? That gamble is paying off.
Let’s rewind for a second. Under Pete Carroll, the Seahawks had a clear blueprint: develop from within, reward their own, and only dip into free agency for short-term, low-risk deals.
Multi-year contracts were reserved for homegrown talent. Outside additions?
Usually one-year flyers, often under $2 million. That strategy helped build the Legion of Boom-era rosters, but in recent years, it had yielded mixed results.
Fast forward to this offseason, and the Seahawks flipped the script. In 2025, they handed out more multi-year contracts to outside free agents than they had in any single year since 2016-and it wasn’t close. Here's the list of names they brought in on short-term deals this year:
- George Fant
- Rayshawn Jenkins
- Jerome Baker
- Tyrel Dodson
- Laken Tomlinson
- Pharaoh Brown
- Nick Harris
- Johnathan Hankins
- K’Von Wallace
- Laviska Shenault
Of that group, Jerome Baker had the biggest impact-but not because of his play in Seattle. Instead, his value came in a trade package that helped land linebacker Ernest Jones from the Titans. That’s telling in itself: the Seahawks' short-term signings didn’t move the needle much on the field.
But here’s where things get interesting. The Seahawks, who had signed just four outside free agents to three-year deals or longer across a full decade (from 2015 to 2024), suddenly inked three such deals in one offseason:
- Demarcus Lawrence
- Cooper Kupp
- Sam Darnold
That’s a seismic shift in roster-building philosophy. And it’s not just about the number of years-it’s about the caliber of player and the impact they’re delivering.
Let’s talk about why that matters. One-year deals are often a red flag.
Players who sign them are usually older, coming off injuries, or trying to prove they still belong. They’re often stopgaps, not cornerstones.
Multi-year deals, on the other hand, typically go to players with leverage-guys who are still producing at a high level and have multiple suitors. That’s where the Seahawks made their mark this offseason.
Now, none of the three big signings came without questions. Darnold had just one season of strong play in seven years.
Kupp, while still crafty, isn’t the All-Pro force he once was. And Lawrence, though still disruptive, isn’t the same player he was in his early Dallas days.
But the Seahawks didn’t pay top-of-market prices for any of them. They found value in players with something to prove-and they’re getting returns.
Darnold has been efficient and composed, showing flashes of the quarterback many hoped he’d become when he was drafted. Lawrence has brought veteran leadership and steady pressure off the edge. And Kupp, even if he’s not racking up 100-yard games, is doing enough to draw coverage and create space for others-exactly what you want from a savvy veteran receiver.
But perhaps the most important piece of all this? All three are under contract for 2026.
That gives Seattle stability at key positions without having to overpay in next year’s free agency frenzy. It also gives Macdonald and Schneider a foundation to build on-something they haven’t had in recent offseasons when patchwork signings were the norm.
It’s early, but this looks like a front office that recognized it needed to evolve-and did. The Seahawks didn’t just spend money this offseason.
They spent it wisely. And if these early returns hold, the rest of the NFC should take notice: Seattle isn’t just retooling-they’re reloading.