NFL insider reveals that it could be the beginning of the end for Kenneth Walker’s tenure with the Seattle Seahawks

Here is the latest on Kenneth Walker’s future with the Seattle Seahawks.

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer
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Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field.
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Perhaps the biggest domino to fall this offseason for the Seattle Seahawks will be what happens with the running back position. Coming off a career year in Seattle, Kenneth Walker is slated to hit free agency with his rookie deal coming to a close.

The Super Bowl MVP could stick around in Seattle of course, but when you draft as well as GM John Schneider has, you eventually have to pay your players. Well, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, that’s what the Seahawks are planning to do, only it may not include Walker.

Seahawks unlikely to use franchise tag on Kenneth Walker

“It’s unlikely the Seahawks will use their franchise tag on running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, per league sources. The Seahawks have multiple free agents they want to retain and sign. They also will try to extend WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. There are enough Super-Bowl tax costs that now make using a franchise tag this off-season unlikely,” – Adam Schefter, ESPN

Part of this simply comes down to positional value. Let’s just compare JSN and Walker for a second. Forget the fact that JSN just won Offensive Player of the Year and was arguably the best WR in the league in 2025; let’s pretend he and Walker are on level playing fields at their respective positions.

Well, the NFL Draft has proven over and over that you can find considerable running back talent in the mid to later rounds. Look at the rest of the division. The Cardinals had one of the best rushing attacks in the league when James Connor was healthy (3rd round pick). The Rams have deployed Kyren Williams as their lead back for the last three years, and all he’s done is go to the Pro Bowl and have multiple 1,000-yard seasons as a 5th rounder.

Conversely, the Justin Jeffersons, Ja’Marr Chases, and JSNs of the world typically go round 1. So it would be a lot harder to replace JSN than it would be Walker. That doesn’t mean his potential departure won’t hurt, but that’s the cost of doing business in a salary cap sport when your damn good at your job.

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