While John Schneider is staying pretty tight-lipped, as usual, about the Seahawks’ personnel plans, we have heard enough scuttlebutt from the Combine to have a pretty decent idea what is going to happen over the next couple of weeks.
For one, the draft lines up very well where the Seahawks might need to replace some guys – and the Hawks have been meeting with a bunch of prospects who could fit.
Two, we now have a very good idea where Schneider and the team stand on Kenneth Walker III – it is basically what we expected.
Three, we know a bit more about how and why the Hawks probably are going to handle extensions for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon.
Let’s break it all down, using intel offered up by ESPN’s Brady Henderson and others.
Secondary first
The Seahawks have met with a bunch of cornerbacks and safeties in this class, which is incredibly strong at those spots.
The team’s clear interest in the secondary lends credence to the thought that Seattle is not going to pay Riq Woolen or Coby Bryant.
Josh Jobe is a possibility, especially if the Hawks can keep him for less than $10 million a year. On our friend Dan Viens’ show, Henderson said the Hawks would “be all over” $7 million to $8 million per year.
The Hawks met with top corners Colton Hood, Brandon Cisse and Chris Johnson (among others). They also talked with top safety Dillon Thieneman. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is another they likely have great interest in – he could be another force multiplier along the lines of Nick Emmanwori.
EMW told Jeff Simmons in Indy, “Their defense went crazy this year. I feel like they’ve got a lot of versatility around the whole field. They can play anywhere they want to play. Just seeing them playing fast and physical, I feel like I can fit in with them.”
Living on the edge
Word from Henderson is that DeMarcus Lawrence might consider retirement at age 33. That would put a little more pressure on Seattle to add an edge rusher, with Boye Mafe fully expected to leave for a nice deal somewhere.
If Lawrence were to retire, the Hawks would be left with Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall on the edges. Short of a big Maxx Crosby trade, Schneider would need to look to the draft to fill the vacancies. Zion Young has been the top pass rusher linked to Seattle. We think they also could look at Derrick Moore.
With Nwosu and Hall both heading into the final year of their deals, this is a position where the Hawks need to add at least one guy this offseason.
Let him Walk?
Scuttlebutt has it that the Seahawks do not want to go over $10 million for Walker.
One agency contract analyst told Henderson that Walker could get $30 million over three years. But others think he will get at least $11 million. We have said it could hit $12 million.
The Chiefs and Giants are rumored to be among the teams with interest.
Cashing in with JSN, Spoon
There has been a lot of chatter about the Seahawks needing to spend some cash to hit the CBA-mandated three-year minimum spend. One report said they needed to spend $50 million. Another list indicates the cash expenditure needs to be $44 million. We put it at $40 million.
This will all be resolved with extensions for JSN and Spoon. Smith-Njigba’s signing bonus alone should come close to covering it.
The Hawks still could pick up the fifth-year options for both, as they did for Charles Cross, and then lay the extensions over those.
Cross got a four-year, $104.4 million extension at the end of the season. That was combined with his $17.6 million option for 2026 to create a five-year deal worth $122 million.
If the Hawks did the same for JSN, he would end up with perhaps something like $204 million over five years. That would include his $23.9 million option for 2027 plus four years at $45 million a year (and a $45 million signing bonus). That would make him the top-paid receiver.
Witherspoon’s option is worth about $21.2 million. Give him a four-year extension at $32.5 million a year to make him the top-paid corner.
You’re talking over $75 million for their signing bonuses – more than enough to satisfy the minimum spend.
Shaheed a sure thing?
With the Hawks appearing set to let go Woolen, Bryant, Mafe and Walker, they have more than enough money to keep Rashid Shaheed.
There probably will be some dispute about his value, because his receiving numbers (15 catches in nine games) were not as stellar as his return digits (three touchdowns).
But Schneider should be willing to pay him $12 million. Henderson suggested Shaheed might choose to do a one-year deal to enhance his market value in 2027. We think Schneider will follow his previous deals for in-season trades Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones IV and get a three-year deal done with Shaheed.
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