Analyzing the Seattle Seahawks’ upcoming free agents

Woolen burst onto the scene as a fifth rounder and established himself as a threat in the secondary. In his rookie campaign, he was named a pro-bowler and notched a league-high six interceptions. Since then, he’s been a staple in the secondary. However, there have been some rocky moments with Woolen which make him very boom or bust. He’ll be white on rice with a receiver all game, not allowing a single reception. Next thing you know, he’ll get burned for a touchdown, or infamously draw a penalty that keeps a drive alive. Though those moments are few and far between, they still persist. As the corner market’s growth shows no signs of stopping, it would probably be wiser for Seattle to try adding a more stable presence at CB, and let Woolen get his bag elsewhere.

WR/KR Rashid Shaheed

As part of a trade with the New Orleans Saints, Shaheed joined the Seahawks on the last year of his deal. This was done following a major shin injury that was sustained by Tory Horton. Horton played a key role as a speedy WR3 and as a returner, and his loss could’ve had disastrous consequences. Enter Shaheed, who was traded at the deadline for a fourth and fifth round selection. He fit like a glove with the Seahawks, reuniting with former OC Klint Kubiak and making game changing plays on special teams. While the draft capital spent coupled with the chemistry Shaheed has with the team may suggest a long-term contract between the two parties, the Tory Horton of it all throws a wrench into those plans. Horton is younger and will most definitely be cheaper. Shaheed has made some great memories with the Rain City in his short time there, but the Seahawks don’t have the funds necessary to give him the deal he deserves.

CB Josh Jobe

Initially on the Seahawks practice squad in 2024 before making the active roster, Josh Jobe has become a respectable third corner on nickel sets for Mike MacDonald’s defense. He had a career year during Seattle’s Super Bowl run. He logged a career-high in tackles, PDs and allowed a career-low 45 completion percentage when targeted. Though he’s not the best corner out there, he’s a great option as a rotational DB. With the losses the team is likely to experience in their secondary, keeping Jobe can help maintain some consistency in the room.

LB Boye Mafe

With the addition of Demarcus Lawrence, Boye Mafe saw less time on the field than in prior years. Nevertheless, he was a valuable piece on a team that had a seemingly bottomless supply of pass-rushers. With a limited snap count, Mafe still recorded 40 pressures and 19 stops. Though his 2 sacks were a career low, he could pump those numbers up with more opportunities. Unfortunately, it’s quite clear that those opportunities won’t come with the Seahawks. Uchenna Nwosu, Derrick Hall and the aforementioned Lawrence are still under contract for the team. Therefore, It’s unlikely that they allocate cap space towards keeping Mafe rather than rinsing and repeating through the draft.

S Coby Bryant

Another starter on Seattle’s secondary. Coby Bryant notched a career-high 4 interceptions and 7 PDs. With Nick Emmanwori being moved constantly moved around the field, Bryant played a vital role as the team’s third safety. That sparks the question, do the Seahawks retain Bryant as a reliable third man playing deep? It’s unlikely that Mike MacDonald stops maximizing Emmanwori’s versatility, so there’ll always be a need for a solid extra man in the safety room. Will that man be Bryant? Unlikely, as his play deserves a bigger payday, one that will probably be out of Seattle’s budget.

RB Kenneth Walker

The reigning Super Bowl MVP spearheaded Klint Kubiak’s run-first offense. Walker had his healthiest season yet, and accumulated 1027 yards and 5 touchdowns. It’s his efforts in the playoffs that stand out though. Without splitting carries with Zach Charbonnet, in three playoff games Walker totaled 313 yards and nearly recreated his regular-season touchdown mark with 4. Furthermore, with a lesser run-scheme and blocking in previous years, Walker still excelled. However, the scheme and offensive mindset that synonymous with the Shanahan/Kubiak tree usually views RBs as expendable and replaceable. With the Seahawks’ hire of 49ers TE coach Brian Fleury as OC, that mindset is unlikely to change. Of course, you could point to someone like Christian McCaffrey, but it’s key to note that Walker doesn’t have the receiving upside of McCaffrey. Then again, Walker is a special RB in his own right, and it’s going to be a tough pill to swallow if Seattle were to let him walk.