The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is drawing to a close, and while the main focus is supposed to be the draft prospects and how they measure up (literally and figuratively) against their peers, Indianapolis is also gossip central for what teams may plan to do as free agency approaches.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler were at the combine all week gathering intel and maximizing their listening skills to report what they’ve heard regarding some of the top names either set to hit free agency or potentially put on the trade block. Here are their Seattle Seahawks relevant tidbits on two big names on offense.
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Rashid Shaheed
The speedy wide receiver and return specialist didn’t catch a touchdown pass from Sam Darnold, but he still made an impact in the running game and was phenomenal as a kick and punt returner. Shaheed was in the middle of a career year with the New Orleans Saints prior to the mid-season trade, and in a weak free agent market he stands out as a receiver who could command extra external attention.
Rival teams expect Buffalo to strongly address wide receiver in the coming weeks. And multiple league executives are linking Rashid Shaheed or Romeo Doubs to the Bills. Alec Pierce will most likely be out of their price range.
Some around the league are linking Shaheed to the Raiders. The feeling is that Las Vegas likes him a lot, though it will be selective at the position if the money gets too out of hand.
Seattle is more likely than not to extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba at some point this offseason, while Cooper Kupp figures to be here to stay for 2026. With Tory Horton on the mend following a knee injury, along with Jake Bobo and Dareke Young set as less prominent free agents, there are some valid question marks concerning the position for the Seahawks.
Kenneth Walker III
The Super Bowl 60 MVP had his healthiest season of his NFL career and was sensational throughout the final few weeks of the season. At the moment, the highest profile extension of a free agent is Javonte Williams, who stayed with the Dallas Cowboys on a three-year, $24 million deal with $16 million guaranteed. A modest contract for a running back who made a great first impression with Dallas after his time with the Denver Broncos.
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For now, that’s the benchmark for would-be free agent running backs. Here’s more from ESPN:
The backs who sound like they have a good chance to top Williams’ number are:
Breece Hall, who will either get a deal done with the Jets before Tuesday’s tag deadline or receive a franchise or transition tag
Kenneth Walker III, who sounds like he’s generating enough outside interest to spell the end of his time in Seattle
Travis Etienne Jr., who sounds unlikely to be tagged by the Jaguars and should have a nice market.
If you take out the soon-to-be released Aaron Jones, the running backs making north of $10 million/year on average are Kyren Williams, James Cook, Josh Jacobs, Alvin Kamara, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, and Saquon Barkley. The salary cap for 2026 is set at just over $300 million, which could spring Walker to join that $10 million/year list. Franchise tagging Walker could cost over $14 million, and it’s extremely unlikely the Seahawks resort to that.
Additionally, ESPN’s Brady Henderson told Dan Viens on the Seahawks Forever Podcast that he’d put Walker’s chances of re-signing with Seattle at under 50 percent, so the general belief is that Walker’s last game was a hell of a way to end his Seahawks career.
“Legal tampering” begins on Monday, March 9, with the league year and the official start of free agency commencing on Wednesday, March 11.
