MARCH 3: Walker will not receive the franchise tag, Graziano’s colleague Peter Schrager reports. Barring an agreement over the coming days, he will thus be able to depart in free agency. Only three previous Super Bowl MVPs have changed teams immediately winning the award, but that number could soon grow.
MARCH 1: Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III is just three weeks removed from being named Super Bowl LX MVP, but he won’t get to revel in the glory for too much longer as he’s set to hit free agency upon the expiration of his rookie contract in Seattle. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Walker is reportedly generating so much outside interest that he could be pricing himself right out of Seattle. 
Now, reasonably, one might question whether the Seahawks would allow their leading rusher in each of the past four seasons to walk in free agency, but there’s plenty to point to in order to explain how it might be the best situation for everyone. To start, Walker’s health has been an issue in the past. He missed two games in each of his first two years in Seattle and missed six games over the course of the 2024 season. While he bucked that trend in Year 4 by appearing in every game for the first time in his career, the Seahawks have been burned in the past by frequently injured running backs like Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, and they may see Walker’s injury history as too risky to invest in long-term.
Secondly, a year after Seattle drafted Walker in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the team went back to the same well, selecting second-round UCLA rusher Zach Charbonnet. Walker’s frequent injuries gave Charbonnet eight spot starts in his first two seasons of play, and he showed plenty of promise as a potential lead back in the opportunities he was given. Though Walker played in (and started) every game this season, Charbonnet continued to see increasing opportunities, posting career-highs in carries (184) and rushing yards (780) while leading the team with 12 rushing touchdowns. While Walker would certainly be missed, the Seahawks may be ready to pass the rock to Charbonnet.
The third factor would simply be price. Graziano believes that the Cowboys set the floor for the starting running back market when they extended Javonte Williams on a three-year, $24MM deal. He lists Walker as one of three backs who could surpass that annual average value of $8MM, citing increasing external interest as the driving factor. While the Seahawks’ salary cap puts them in a good position to spend in 2026, the franchise hasn’t invested long-term in a running back since the days of Marshawn Lynch.
Looking at all the factors together, it’s not looking good for fans that want to see the Seahawks run in back with their Super Bowl MVP. Retaining Walker would require Seattle to commit long-term money, and the combination of Walker’s injury history and Charbonnet’s capability make that option seem less than prudent. Instead, it appears that Walker could earn a big payday to try and take another team to the Super Bowl, while the Seahawks will get a good look at Charbonnet as RB1 as Charbonnet puts forth his best foot in a contract year for him.
Thank you what you did for the Hawks and good luck to you in your next home.
I would let him go and spend those $$ to lock up JSN and Witherspoon.
Running backs just don’t hold up in most cases, better to let them go after the rookie contract expires.
True, but Walker could be even better behind that line. He has the burst that Charb didnt have even before his injury. If Walker leaves, the Chiefs make the most sense because picking Love that high might be risky unless he is truly a three down back and blocker that he claims to be?
I really liked the two RB attack when it was working with both Charbs & Walker. If Seattle loses Walker could they bring in one of the other free agent RBs or draft one? Not sure if Charbs by himself is enough.
I disagree the Chiefs have too many holes in their O-line and they’re over the cap with many key free agents to sign. Denver is the more obvious place, their entire O-line is back and with plenty of cap space and only 2 RBs on their roster
The Chiefs cap position keeps worse every year. Bringing in Walker salary probably not good option. They need to look at draft. Imo
I love Charbonnet but he is not a feature back.
Walker not only is a feature back, he is easily a Pro Bowl caliber RB.
Those guys are not easy to replace, believe it it not.
I agree Charb is great but he is a compliment rb. We won’t even have him back until probably late October November. Best route might be draft or free agent for Walker replacement.
Yeah, Walker really took his play to the next level too this postseason. Those cuts and shakes were extremely effective. He can run inside or outside, which is very helpful to any interested team.
The question for him, of course, is availability. In a seventeen game season, however, I’d caution any team about expecting every game availability for their backs. You definitely need support in a flexible rotation of some type, with few notable exceptions (all of whom are all time level talents, like Henry, Barkley, or Taylor, and even those guys miss time).
Five paragraphs and no mentioning of Charbonnet’s injury causing him to miss a large chunk of ’26. Or tagging Walker.
Best situation for the Seahawks to tag Walker and draft a day 3 back. Let Charbonney heal, keep Walker without a long term deal, and give yourself some depth for ’26. Then reassess next off season.
The Hawks perfer a long term deal. They would have already tagged him. You are also looking at over 14 million tag. They also have only 4 picks in draft right now. 1 day 3..6th round. Other skill spots needed also.
If they are going to tag him they might as well sign him long term. It will be close to the number he is looking at. I am in favor of tagging him though. See if he can play another year and leave the “injury prone” bug behind him. Walker is a really good RB I will not say great until he can get past the injury bug. Best bet is to tag him and see if that bug is behind him. If it is then sign long term. If he is upset about the tag then let him walk and draft another.
I would say draft one this year but we need a G way more than a RB. They can get one in FA if they let him walk this year. Heck Schneider might find one in the 3rd to 4th rounds.
Titans would be a great fit for him they have th money too and daboll loves his running back style
Hard pass at anything over 3 year, $24M.
He is worth more than 8 million per … still a young back
Maybe. On the whole, I don’t believe he’s been worth more than that. Not a great blocker or receiver and really discovered he can’t run indecisively for the last 6 weeks of a 4 year deal. $8M is plenty, or I would start to look elsewhere.
Youre right, its close, but he showed his ability with better blocking and health, while being able to run through a lot of tackles during his four years. His blocking is bad but despite what Collinsworth said during the SB, he is getting even better as a receiver with catches that enabled their SB postseason run. Health will decide how affective he can continue to be, but thats with every talented player …
It’s crazy that they’re expecting Entienne to get much less than Walker.
Washington would be crazy not to pursue Walker. Their leading rusher last season was a 7th round rookie who fumbled 4 times on just 184 touches.