SEATTLE — The confetti has barely settled from Seattle’s Super Bowl LX victory, but the front office is already making hard decisions. Despite a legendary MVP performance that brought the Lombardi Trophy back to the Pacific Northwest, running back Kenneth Walker III is unlikely to receive the franchise tag this offseason, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fresh off a dominant 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots, the Seahawks are facing the financial reality of a championship roster. Schefter reported Tuesday morning that general manager John Schneider is unlikely to utilize the tag on Walker, primarily due to the team’s tight salary cap situation—often dubbed the “Super Bowl tax.”
The franchise tag window opened Tuesday and runs through March 3. For a running back, the one-year tender is projected at $14.5 million for the 2026 season. While Walker has been the engine of Seattle’s offense, that price point appears too steep for a team looking to balance its books and retain multiple key free agents.
Walker’s leverage has never been higher. The 2022 second-round pick didn’t just play; he dominated.
” The team has multiple free agents it wants to re-sign… and it will try to sign standout wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a contract extension.”
— Adam Schefter, ESPN (via Social Media)
The decision to bypass the tag isn’t just about Walker; it’s about the future of the passing game. The report indicates Seattle is prioritizing a contract extension for star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba before he enters the final year of his rookie deal.
This leaves Walker to test the open market unless a long-term deal is reached before free agency begins. History suggests the Seahawks won’t budge easily on the tag; under Schneider, the team has used it only twice since 2010 (kicker Olindo Mare and defensive end Frank Clark). With Charbonnet recovering from a serious knee injury, letting the Super Bowl MVP walk would be a massive gamble, but it’s one the Seahawks might be forced to take.
