With more intel and scuttlebutt emerging from the Combine, we think we have a good idea how John Schneider and the Seahawks are going to approach the new league year next week.

All signs point to Kenneth Walker III leaving Seattle along with Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant and Boye Mafe. Some fans are wondering why the team would not want to pay them top dollar when the Seahawks have the sixth-most salary cap space in the NFL: “Why not pay them all and run it back with the same crew?”

It is simple: The Seahawks have to plan beyond 2026, and they have better needs and desires for that cap space.

In a nutshell, here’s how we think it is going to play out:

• The Hawks will keep Rashid Shaheed and Josh Jobe, letting those four other top free agents go.
• They also will make another overture toward the Raiders for Maxx Crosby.
• They will replace Walker with a cheaper vet back, possibly via trade.
• Ty Okada will replace Bryant, and the Hawks will use their top picks on defensive backs (and maybe an edge rusher if they do not get Crosby).

Even though league insiders say Buffalo and Las Vegas are interested in Shaheed, and some think he might get as much as $15 million per year, we think Schneider and team contract negotiator Joey Laine will manage to keep him. We also think there is a good chance they will keep Jobe, especially if they can get him for under $10 million a year.

But the Hawks do not want to pay the expected $12 million to Walker, Mafe or Bryant – and they certainly do not want to pay $18 million to Woolen. (Albert Breer thinks Walker might get $14 million, which we mentioned as a possibility a while back as well.)

We also think Schneider plans to play the comp game, trying to net at least three more picks for 2027 – which he said will be a stronger draft than this one. The amounts above could net a 4 and three 5s.

We do not expect any big signings of outside free agents – certainly nothing like 2025, when Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and DeMarcus Lawrence all got sizeable deals from Seattle.

Schneider might look to make a couple of trades though.

One NFC exec told ESPN the trade price for Crosby is still too high, which tells us the Micah Parsons comparisons are too much. We still think the Hawks could be in it if the Raiders decide they are OK with a 1 and 2. For Seattle, that would be this year’s 1 and next year’s 2. They could spice up the pot by throwing in Uchenna Nwosu (assuming DeMarcus Lawrence is not retiring as well).

Of course, the Raiders will have no shortage of suitors for Crosby. Per Albert Breer, other interested teams include Dallas, Chicago, Baltimore, Buffalo, New England, Philadelphia and the Rams.

There also are rumblings that the Hawks could be in on a trade for David Montgomery, Detroit’s No. 2 back, as a possible replacement for Walker. Schneider could offer a mid-rounder in 2027, especially if he is planning to get at least three more of them.

Montgomery is signed for two more years, with cap hits of $6 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027. Two years at $15 million is going to be a lot cheaper than three years at $36 million or whatever Walker ends up with. (Editor’s note: Montgomery was traded to Houston shortly after this was posted.)

Tyler Allgeier is another option who might fit really well in Seattle. The Hawks might be able to get the former Atlanta fifth-rounder for $7 million a year.

So here is how we expect the Seahawks will replace the guys who are likely leaving:

• Walker: Cheaper vet.
• Bryant: Ty Okada.
• Mafe: Crosby or draft pick.
• Woolen: Draft pick.

If Jobe also leaves, they will need to add a veteran corner. If Shaheed departs, Tory Horton’s health becomes even more important. If Lawrence retires and they do not get Crosby, the Hawks will need to find pass-rush help somewhere.

After all of these moves, the Hawks will look at extending Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon with market-setting deals.

So where does all the cap space go, if not to Walker, et al.?

We project Shaheed, Jobe and Montgomery to each count around $6 million. JSN and Spoon would take at least $9 million total – more if their signing bonuses were not split across 2026-27.

Crosby has a $30 million salary this year, although the Hawks could pay most of that as a bonus and cut the cap hit in half. If Nwosu is included in the trade, that would be $11.5 million back.

The Hawks also seem likely to give RFAs Drake Thomas and Brady Russell either tenders or short-term deals.

If there is no Crosby trade, Nwosu would of course still be on the team. The Hawks could still have $38 million in space after the above moves and could go after a pass rusher in free agency (Schneider still would net three comp picks off four losses and one qualifying signing).

Derick Hall might also be in line for an extension, which would take some 2026 cap space as well.