Four potential landing spots for Kenneth Walker III ahead of NFL free agency

The Seattle Seahawks made their call before Tuesday's deadline, and they've chosen not to use the franchise tag on Kenneth Walker III. That decision puts the reigning Super Bowl MVP one step closer to free agency and what could be a significant payday elsewhere.

Unless the Seahawks and Walker can hammer out a deal before the market opens, he'll be free to field offers from anyone interested. His production last season only adds to his value.

Walker rushed 221 times for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns across 17 games in 2025. Numbers like that do not go unnoticed around the league. If he hits the open market, expect several teams to come calling for a proven playmaker.

Here are four possible landing spots if Walker ends up leaving Seattle.

Las Vegas Raiders

Klint Kubiak didn't waste any time making his intentions clear in Las Vegas. The new Raiders head coach has already stated he wants to bring in another running back to pair with 2025 first-round pick and former Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty.

On paper, it sounds like a solid plan, but the reality is a bit messier. Las Vegas enters the offseason with plenty of holes to fill, particularly along an offensive line that struggled mightily last season.

Still, there's something appealing about the idea of reuniting Walker with the coordinator who helped the Michigan State product put together the best year of his career. And if projected No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza is going to reshape this offense, the ground game around him will be just as important.

Denver Broncos

There is not much debate about where the Broncos need help. The backfield had its moments, but RJ Harvey's rookie campaign left the position still looking for consistency. Harvey carried the ball 146 times for 540 yards, caught 47 passes for 356 yards, and found the end zone 12 times.

Meanwhile, Denver's leading rusher in 2025, J.K. Dobbins, put up 772 yards and four touchdowns in just 10 games but is now heading toward free agency himself. Restricted free agent Jaleel McLaughlin is expected to return despite seeing limited action.

Even so, if the Broncos want to build on their strong 2025 season, pursuing a bigger upgrade makes sense. With $25.2 million in cap space, a move for Walker is financially doable.

Washington Commanders

Washington enters 2026 with $72.3 million in cap space and a roster that still has plenty of questions on both sides of the ball. The backfield held up better than expected after Austin Ekeler's season ended early on a non-contact injury.

Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. picked up the slack, combining for 1,305 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. That said, the offense could benefit from another dynamic option.

Pairing Walker with Jayden Daniels would give the Commanders a different look, especially after Daniels missed 10 games in his sophomore season due to health issues. After a 2025 campaign that fell well short of expectations, Washington has both the flexibility and the motivation to make a significant move.

Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales spent all season in Carolina talking about building a two-back rotation with Chuba Hubbard, but the numbers told a different story by the end. Rico Dowdle turned out to be Carolina's most productive runner in 2025, racking up 1,076 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 236 carries.

With Dowdle also heading toward free agency in 2026, the situation suddenly looks a lot less stable. That's where Walker becomes an interesting possibility.

Canales previously coached in Seattle during Walker's rookie year in 2022 under Pete Carroll, while Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik also worked with that Seahawks staff. Given Canales' preference for leaning on a tandem in the backfield, the connection makes practical football sense.