Category Archives: Contracts

Savvy coaching moves, plus markets for Walker & others

The offseason comes fast for Super Bowl champs, but Mike Macdonald and John Schneider were ready for it.

The Super Bowl celebration is over, and Macdonald is already back to Chasing Edges with some new coaching hires. Meanwhile, in what is no surprise, the Seahawks apparently are not considering the franchise tag for Kenneth Walker III.

Let’s run down the intriguing coaching moves by Macdonald and then take a look at Walker’s situation and project the markets for Seattle’s other key free agents.

Continue reading Savvy coaching moves, plus markets for Walker & others

With Charbs out, will Hawks now need to overpay Walker?

When the news emerged early this week that Zach Charbonnet had been lost to an ACL injury, the first thought was: Who will be Kenneth Walker’s backup in the NFC title game? But the more long-term question is: Will the Seahawks now feel pressured to pay Walker more than they might have wanted to?

The answer to the first question was resolved when the Seahawks let George Holani begin practicing. He went on IR with a hamstring injury after the Week 12 win over Tennessee, but he said he has been healthy for several weeks now. So expect him to step in for Charbs as Walker’s rotational running mate against the Rams on Sunday.

With that determined, let’s look ahead to the offseason for a minute and see what might happen with the Hawks’ running back room.

Continue reading With Charbs out, will Hawks now need to overpay Walker?

JSN is earning a big payday — let’s look ahead to 2026

With every passing week that he helps the Seahawks notch another win, Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes himself a lot more money.

He had perhaps his best game of the season in a 30-24 win over Tennessee in Week 12, catching eight passes for a season-best 167 yards and scoring twice, including a season-long 63-yarder.

JSN set the franchise record for receiving yards in just the 11th game. His 1,313 yards are 10 more than DK Metcalf had in 16 games in 2020. JSN is on pace for 2,029 yards, which would break Calvin Johnson’s record of 1,964 from 2012 (in 16 games). JSN is just 0.4 yards per game behind Johnson’s pace through 12 weeks.

With JSN eligible for a contract extension after this season, it is time to start looking at what he will cost — and how it all fits with the rest of the roster.

Continue reading JSN is earning a big payday — let’s look ahead to 2026

Carroll’s return was Geno’s out as he felt ‘disconnect’ in Seattle

Without saying it out loud, Geno Smith basically confirmed what we always thought: Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL precipitated Smith’s departure from Seattle.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (along with ESPN’s Brady Henderson): We think Smith very likely would still be in Seattle (under a new deal) if Carroll had not been hired by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Continue reading Carroll’s return was Geno’s out as he felt ‘disconnect’ in Seattle

Hawks saved $30M in 2025 swapping out QB and receivers

Ever since the Seahawks
essentially swapped Geno Smith, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett for Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp and Marques Valdes-Scantling, plus a couple of Day 2 picks, fans have debated whether the Hawks made a good aggregate deal.

Now that we have numbers on all of Seattle’s contracts, we can compare the money (pending Smith’s new deal with the Raiders).

Continue reading Hawks saved $30M in 2025 swapping out QB and receivers

Free agency Day 1: Hawks get a good deal on Darnold

As expected, the Seahawks quickly agreed to a deal with Sam Darnold.

It was reported as $100.5 million over three years, with $37.5 million in Year 1 and $55 million total guaranteed. So essentially that is a two-year deal worth $55 million — $27.5 million a year. And then they will revisit in 2027.

If he continues to ascend his play under Klint Kubiak, he will merit a new deal. Otherwise, the Hawks set it up as a two-year trial — with many thinking (hoping) they will draft a QB this year or next.

Continue reading Free agency Day 1: Hawks get a good deal on Darnold

Will Schneider trade Metcalf this time?

Three years ago, John Schneider had a decision to make: Extend DK Metcalf with a top-of-the-market deal or trade him.

Even though the Seattle general manager admitted to being shocked at the skyrocketing numbers for receivers back then (they were just hitting $20 million per year), Pete Carroll really wanted to keep Metcalf, so Schneider paid the talented receiver $24 million per year.

Now Metcalf is again approaching the end of his contract and it’s deja vu all over again for Schneider.

Continue reading Will Schneider trade Metcalf this time?

Hawks will extend Geno; Kubiak has ‘best vision’ for using DK

While the Seahawks are certainly likely to move on from a few highly paid players, one thing has become very clear over the last couple of days: Geno Smith and DK Metcalf will be back in 2025.

Mike Macdonald and new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak both emphasized Smith is Seattle’s quarterback and said they have big plans for Metcalf.

In an interview with FOX 13, Macdonald said Kubiak will “utilize the entire roster,” Smith can help the Seahawks win the Super Bowl and Metcalf will be the “main focal point” of the passing game.

Macdonald seemed to put all of the scuttlebutt about Smith and Metcalf to rest with his strong words about both. And NFL Network also reported on Super Bowl Sunday that the Hawks plan to give Smith a raise while keeping themselves “flexible” to acquiring a long-term quarterback.

Continue reading Hawks will extend Geno; Kubiak has ‘best vision’ for using DK

Macdonald wants Geno as his QB, but ‘it’s a Seahawks decision’

If Mike Macdonald has his way, Geno Smith will be back in 2025, playing under a new offensive coordinator and possibly an extension.

In his final presser of the season, Macdonald told reporters, “I want Geno to be here. … I feel like Geno is the best (quarterback) for the team right now.”

But Macdonald also indicated nothing is set in stone, which explains his cryptic answer the previous day on Seattle Sports 710 AM when asked if Smith would be back: “I guess yeah.”

Smith’s cap hit will be $44.5 million, which means the team could look at lowering it with an extension or perhaps even moving on if a deal cannot be reached. The latter seems very unlikely though — Smith is a top-15 QB (No. 13 by EPA over the past three years), and there are no better options for Seattle in 2025.

“Ultimately, it’s not my decision,” Macdonald said. “It’s a Seahawks decision. But Geno knows how we feel about him — and we love him as our starting quarterback, for sure.”

Continue reading Macdonald wants Geno as his QB, but ‘it’s a Seahawks decision’

Geno and DK: Decisions, decisions

Thanks to Ryan Grubb’s increasingly listless offense, John Schneider has some difficult decisions regarding Geno Smith and DK Metcalf in the coming offseason.

The 6-point performance in Chicago the day after Christmas was just the latest indicator that Grubb has had a negative effect on the quarterback and receiver.

Both players are still signed for another season, and Schneider needs to decide whether to extend one or both OR move on from one or both OR let them play out their deals — presumably under a new offensive coordinator.

Continue reading Geno and DK: Decisions, decisions