4 Reasons the Seahawks Won Free Agency

Schneider understands that running backs are much more replaceable than elite pass-catchers. Rashid Shaheed was not expendable, especially after a midseason trade and three pivotal kick return touchdowns in just 12 games. And he only weighs $7 million against the cap in 2026.

The only pass-catcher to leave was Dareke Young, who joined Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas. Young, while a great returner, was expendable with Shaheed coming back and Tory Horton also being an excellent kick returner.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Jake Bobo, Horton, White and Shaheed make up the Seahawks' top 6 pass-catchers, and that's likely all they will carry to the active roster anyway. Seattle doesn't have to look at receivers at all this offseason.

3. Only 2 full-time starters left

Running back Kenneth Walker III is a huge loss, especially with Zach Charbonnet on the mend from a torn ACL in the Divisional Round. The Seahawks will turn to former Packers rusher Emanuel Wilson and 2024 undrafted free agent George Holani to step up early in the season, and potentially add in the draft.

Safety Coby Bryant was also one of the best safeties in the league in 2025, and he left to the Chicago Bears. While cornerback Riq Woolen and edge rusher Boye Mafe are tough losses, they weren't full-time starters last season.

Woolen started just seven games in 2025, while Josh Jobe (re-signed to a three-year, $24 million deal) started 15 opposite Devon Witherspoon. Mafe started just three games. These are roles that head coach Mike Macdonald can find replacements for at far less than a premium price.

2. One of them has a direct replacement

Bryant's departure was unexpected, and it's a huge hit at face value. But it's easy to forget that Ty Okada started 11 games for the Seahawks last season while Julian Love was injured.

Okada played starter-level football, totaling 65 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six pass deflections and one interception. He played 742 defensive snaps after playing just 33 over his first two years in the league.

That makes Okada the de facto replacement for Bryant, and the Seahawks can feel good about who they are plugging in. The safety depth won't be quite what it was, but that's why they brought in Rodney Thomas II to fill in Okada's former backup role.

1. The core of a Super Bowl-winning roster is returning

There were a lot of unsexy re-signings by Schneider during free agency. Contracts for Brady Russell, Chazz Surratt and Brandon Pili aren't going to be massive factors for the offense or defense.

But those are glue guys on special teams, and those were the small aspects of the roster that made the Seahawks so good in 2025. Schneider got those guys back, and that's the blueprint they will need to make another run at a championship.

Two years and $8 million for inside linebacker Drake Thomas was a steal. Jobe was another bargain at his production level. It's hard to say the Seahawks explicitly got worse in any area outside of running back, and that's a win after securing a Lombardi Trophy.

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