SEATTLE — The parade through downtown Seattle was only a month ago, but the honeymoon phase for the reigning Super Bowl champions is officially over. Despite hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara just weeks back, the Seattle Seahawks are facing a brutal reality check from national analysts. In a feature released Friday, NBC Sports expert Kyle Dvorchak handed the world champions a D+ grade for their opening week of free agency a mark that stands as one of the lowest in the league.
The core of the criticism stems from Seattle’s decision to drop a massive 3-year, $51 million contract on wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed. While Shaheed was a spark plug during the playoff run, including a legendary kickoff return in the divisional round, the analytics community is calling foul on the valuation. Dvorchak points out a glaring structural flaw in the move: the man who championed Shaheed’s arrival, offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, has already packed his bags for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Seattle’s front office seems to be betting that Shaheed’s late-season surge was the start of a breakout, rather than a product of Kubiak’s specific “New Orleans connection” scheme. With $34.7 million in total guarantees, the Seahawks are paying top-tier money for a player who recorded just 188 receiving yards during his nine regular-season games in the Pacific Northwest. For a team that just lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs on a $45 million deal, the decision to prioritize a WR3 over a workhorse back has left fans and experts scratching their heads.
“We know what Rashid brings to this locker room and the explosive nature of his game. Grades are for the offseason; trophies are for the mantel. We’re building this our way.”
— Mike Macdonald, Seahawks Head Coach
The D+ grade isn’t just about who Seattle signed—it’s about who walked out the door. Along with Walker heading to KC, the Seahawks watched pass rusher Boye Mafe sign a $60 million contract with the Bengals. The defense that stifled Drake Maye in the Super Bowl is suddenly looking thinner in the trenches. General Manager John Schneider has always been a “draft-and-develop” advocate, but with the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh fast approaching, the pressure is on to find immediate replacements for the championship core.
Seattle currently holds the 32nd pick, and after the Shaheed signing, the needs at running back and edge rusher have moved from “secondary” to “critical.” If Macdonald can’t find a way to replicate Kubiak’s offensive rhythm with a new staff, that $51 million price tag could become a massive anchor for a team trying to build a dynasty.
