Seattle is preparing to face New England in Super Bowl LX, which could also be running back Kenneth Walker‘s last game in a Seahawks uniform. The fourth-year man is on track to reach free agency in March, but general manager John Schneider understands Walker’s importance to the team and doesn’t want to lose him in the offseason.
“Ken has been awesome,” Schneider told the media (via Mike Florio of PFT). “Explosive. I would say maybe a little bit more decisive the last month and a half. He’s a free agent. We’d love to have him back.”
Walker, whom Schneider chose in the second round of the 2022 draft, played a 17-game regular season for the first time in 2025 and put together his second 1,000-yard campaign. The former Michigan State Spartan totaled 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on 221 carries (4.6 YPC).
As Schneider noted, Walker has been especially successful in recent weeks. The 25-year-old has rushed for 95-plus yards in three of the Seahawks’ past five games. He ran roughshod over the 49ers in a 41-6 win in the divisional round, when he amassed 116 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. Walker chipped in a more modest 62 yards on 19 carries in an NFC title game win over the Rams, but he added 49 yards on four catches and scored another TD on the ground.
Aside from an injury-limited 2024 in which he tallied a mere 573 yards on 153 carries (a career-low 3.7) over 12 contests, Walker has typically posted solid numbers. He averaged 223 carries, 994 yards and seven rushing TDs in approximately 16 games per year in his other three seasons. Walker hauled in a personal-best 46 catches in 2024, but he has otherwise hovered around 30 per annum.
While Walker’s traditional numbers have never been elite, Pro Football Focus nonetheless ranked him as its No. 1 back in 2025. That may be something Walker’s representatives point out when negotiating his next contract.
Notably, Walker hired Aura Sports Group earlier this month, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The agency has represented several other Seahawks over the years, including 2025 free agent pickup DeMarcus Lawrence, Brady Henderson of ESPN notes. Schneider’s strong working relationship with Aura may improve the Seahawks’ chances of retaining Walker. Regardless, with the fourth-most cap space in the league, Schneider and his front office will have plenty of wiggle room in the offseason.
If re-signing Walker wasn’t already enough of a priority, it may have become more important to the Seahawks after No. 2 back Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the divisional round. When healthy, Walker and Charbonnet have logged an almost equal number of snaps during their three years together. Walker accrued just eight more than Charbonnet (498 to 490) in 2025.
Given the timing of his injury, Charbonnet may miss at least some portion of next season. That would make it all the more difficult for Seattle to lose Walker. If a deal doesn’t materialize, though, Walker could join Breece Hall, Travis Etienne and Javonte Williams among high-profile free agent backs when the market opens on March 11.
Oh man he would be awesome with the Chiefs
Yea, if I was Walker, I’d definitely stay just to let McDonald give Charbenot all of my TDs. NOT in the least. If I’m Walker I’m giving McDonald my middle finger on the way out the door for giving Charbenot all my TDs!!!
With the cap space that they have and a handful of easy restructures(and maybe releasing Kupp), this really shouldn’t be an issue for them unless Walker wants to leave Seattle.
No need to pay RBs second contracts.
Worked out well for the Eagles, 49ers, and Colts. Not that Walker is quite as good as those guys, but still. I used to be very opposed to giving big second contracts to running backs, but now that guys who are barely number 2 receivers make more money than almost any running back in the game, I think paying backs has gotten a lot more reasonable.
How many RBs outside of Barkley have been a key cog in a superbowl winning team?
Even Barkley had his deal structured in 2024 to only take up 1.5% of the total cap. So even that example doesn’t hold up.
No SB winning team in recent memory has had big money tied up in a RB.
The Eagles structure EVERY contract like that and they’ve won two of the last ten Super Bowls, so that’s an Eagles being savvy issue, not a running back issue. They signed a running back to a big second contract and won the Super Bowl. Period. Super Bowl winners are a tiny sample, anyway, and one that’s heavily waited to Mahomes and Brady teams in recent years. Go back before Mahomes and Marshawn Lynch was a great investment. The 49ers have made a bunch of playoff runs heavily relying on second contract CMC. It’s very clearly been a good idea to give him his second contract. Kyren Williams’ second contract has also been a great idea for a contender.
You are skirting the claim.
Tying up big money in a RB does not typically equal success. The Eagles were a rare case because the money comes on the back side and when that comes up they’ll likely be toast by then.
SB winners specifically. I don’t care about the 49ers who haven’t won the big one. Most winning SB teams have low cap % RBs as RB1.
You said no need to pay RBs second contracts. Literally the last Super Bowl winner did that. You can’t skirt that.
OK skirting again after I clarified.
My claim: Most team’s aren’t successful paying big money to RBs.
Stay focused on that because it’s fact.
OK. I cited several counterexamples in the league right now. And I stand by my original point, which is that paying running backs second contracts makes more sense in an era when even third receivers might make more money than a top 10 running back.
You only get one Super Bowl winner a year so the window for these guys are small to win one. You can’t just use a Super bowl win as your measuring stick for success. Continued trips to the playoffs, Championship games and Super Bowl actually make this an argument/debate.
Savvy? At some point, the Eagles kicking the can down the road will catch up to them and they will crash. 2028 is apparently the year. In fairness, The Eagles have still not dug as deep a hole as the Saints did.
Roseman’s very good trick is to let the mid-tier stars shining bright on a conference champion or Super Bowl team depart and to spend the compensatory picks wisely.
Yes, the team that’s won two Super Bowls in the last nine seasons, been to one more, and only had one losing season in that time is savvy. Especially considering they’ve done it without ever having an elite quarterback. They have some cap inflexibility in terms of things like it being very difficult to trade AJ Brown this offseason, but they’re most likely not headed for any huge cap trouble. They might need a year to eat their vegetables and change out some veterans, but last time they did that, they were out of business for all of one season. Not sure what you’re looking at in 2028, but even if they lock up guys like Carter and Davis, they’re looking fine for then. Especially considering the NFL is getting new TV deals in 2029, which is going to make the cap skyrocket even more. Roseman has referred to the way they manage their cap, with void years, restructures, etc., as taking low interest loans from themselves. You can only do that if you have an owner willing to spend cash, but yes, it’s savvy.
The Niners, like you mentioned, are the perfect example at savvy contract work. They have been to the playoffs mostly every year the last several years (when they were healthy). Now they are going to be able to release Aiyuk, restructure Bosa and extend Williams and add a ton more cap space. Do it right, you can get by and make it work. you have to make sure you have cap space to roll over to the next year. It’s amazing how many people ignore that or have no idea about it.
KC is an example where the big deal is finally catching up. 50+ million over the cap and Mahomes has a 78 million cap hit. Time to roll the sleeves up.
😂😂😂 “finally catching up” after 5 Super Bowl appearances. You must really understand investing and return.
NO would have been better off trading Kamara for a few 1st round picks and then deal with 2 years of cap hell after Brees retired but they gave him a big deal and the snowball effect hit…….and then the Carr contract……eeeek.
Ridiculous take.
I think he wants to leave. Wants to be the lead dog while staying healthy. Probably not happy they couldnt give him a decent line that led to injuries, inconsistency. A SB win could change his thinking though …
Priced himself out. Charb if healthy can handle it. They need to spend on keeping their defense intact somewhat.
Whenever a team says “we’d love to have so and so back”, it usually means they aren’t making that player a priority in any way, shape, or form.
Let’s see if that “love” can be seen in their offer (if they make one). I’ll save you the suspense, it won’t!
The Charbonnet injury definitely changes the need at RB. They would need to draft a couple RBs who play immediately if they don’t sign somebody.
Depending on the price, Hawks need Walker.
Tag, you’re staying!