Tag Archives: Tariq Woolen

The roster, X's & O's

EPA splits reveal defense is no worse for departures

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Many NFL observers have made a big deal about the Seahawks losing two starters and two major backups this offseason. Some argue that those four losses – along with an offensive coordinator change — are enough to even make them questionable as contenders in 2026.

But Brian Nemhauser (HawkBlogger) recently performed a fun exercise that confirmed what we and other savvy observers already knew: The Seahawks certainly did not get any worse this offseason.

On the contrary, on defense anyway, the Hawks are likely to be even better off (as we have said).

Continue reading EPA splits reveal defense is no worse for departures →
Free agency, Schedule

Which 2026 opponents can beat the Hawks right now?

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A lot of people who are not really in the know think the Seahawks have taken a step back this offseason – because they didn’t make any major additions after losing their starting running back and free safety, their third corner and their fourth edge rusher.

But they added players at three of those positions to fill the gaps and still have three picks in the first two days of the draft to augment as well. Like every other team, the 2026 Seahawks are not complete.

Even as they stand now, though, the Hawks are good enough to beat every team in the NFL on the way to another Super Bowl. The Rams are the only team that some think are better, which is completely fair to say after the Rams addressed their major weakness by trading for cornerback Trent McDuffie and also signing fellow Chiefs cornerback Jalen Watson.

Continue reading Which 2026 opponents can beat the Hawks right now? →
Contracts, Free agency

Good first day as Hawks keep Shaheed, Jobe

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The first day of free agency went better than expected for the Seahawks, who managed to keep both Josh Jobe AND Rashid Shaheed.

The latter was a nice surprise, as the Seahawks stunningly paid market value to keep their superstar return man. On the other side, they kept Jobe at their price – a little lower than his projected market value.

Shaheed was, in our estimation, Seattle’s top priority among its six big free agents. The fact that John Schneider and company chose to give him a three-year, $51 million deal ($17 million per year) is proof that they valued him very highly.

Jobe is back on a three-year deal as well, at $8 million a year.

As expected, the Hawks lost Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant and Boye Mafe. They all got paid very well. Mafe got a shocking $20 million a year from Cincinnati, Walker got over $14 million from Kansas City, and Bryant got over $13 million from Chicago.

Let’s take a look at how these moves impact the Seahawks’ roster and coming moves.

Continue reading Good first day as Hawks keep Shaheed, Jobe →
Free agency, NFL draft

Hawks won’t get four 3s; here’s how comp game likely plays out

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With the Seahawks expected to lose as many as five top free agents, we said earlier this week that it looked like John Schneider seemed prepared to play the comp game.

Fans have started dreaming about having a basket of third-round picks in 2027, while others (us included) point out that Schneider has never done well with comp picks.

Let’s take a look at what the comp options might be and then how Schneider has used them in the past and how he might be able to use them this year (despite not getting them until next year).

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Contracts, Free agency, Trades

The expected plan: Shaheed, trades, comp picks, extensions

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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:

Continue reading The expected plan: Shaheed, trades, comp picks, extensions →
Coaches, Contracts

Savvy coaching moves, plus markets for Walker & others

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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 →
Super Bowl LX, The roster

Back-to-back? Defense that dominated Pats will return in 2026

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In his first team meeting in 2024, Mike Macdonald predicted the Seahawks would be in the NFC Championship Game.

“It’s inevitable,” he told his first group of Seahawks, which included many of the guys who beat the Rams in the NFC title game a couple weeks ago.

Macdonald did not predict a Super Bowl win, but he and his team delivered that Sunday, beating the Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX. Afterward, he said he had “100% confidence” that his team would win. That’s certainly how it felt to us (we had predicted a 31-13 win).

Macdonald brought a vision to Seattle, and – along with some great help from John Schneider — he has made it come to life by creating the best defense in the NFL. It is a unit that is poised to dominate in 2026 — and probably beyond.

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#LARvsSEA, Playoffs

Reaction, stats, highlights from Seattle’s NFC title win vs. the Rams

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The Seahawks are back in the Super Bowl after a rousing 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC title game.

With his defense struggling to contain the Rams for much of the game, Sam Darnold led Seattle with 346 passing yards, three touchdowns (all under pressure) and no interceptions. It was a spectacular performance that silenced any remaining Darnold doubters.

The analysis of the game is still ongoing two days later, and we finally have time to post the CHawk Talk — what everyone is saying about Seattle’s big win.

Here are some of the many highlights from NFL Twitter.

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Contracts, The roster

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

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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 →
Trades

Hawks ‘in the market’ for O-line help — what about Saints’ Ruiz?

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With the trade deadline days away, moves are being made and chatter is picking up – so let’s connect some possible dots around the Seahawks.

One of the big ones that emerged today was Saints guard Cesar Ruiz to Seattle – a move that conceivably would help the Hawks at right guard.

The Seahawks are “in the market” for an offensive lineman, per Jordan Schultz. And ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported: “Teams I’ve spoken to are under the impression that guard Cesar Ruiz might be available at the right price.”

Scuttlebutt is that “the right price” would be a third-round pick. That surely is too steep for John Schneider, but what if it came down to a 5 or 6 by next Tuesday’s deadline? Or what if it was a pick swap – maybe the Hawks give up a 3 and get back a 5? Ruiz is signed for two more years, so they would have a chance to get value out of such a deal.

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