The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 offseason as defending Super Bowl champions, but as is often the case with title teams, the roster has already begun to change. On this episode of The Hawks Eye, we’ll break down what comes next for Seattle with insight from one of the most trusted voices covering the team.
Joining the show is longtime Seahawks beat reporter Gregg Bell, who will offer perspective on the organization’s direction as the offseason unfolds. With free agency underway, roster turnover beginning, and the NFL Draft approaching, there are plenty of important topics surrounding the team.
The discussion begins with a look at Seattle’s overall offseason plan and how the front office may approach roster construction after a championship season. Maintaining a contender while managing the salary cap and player movement is one of the biggest challenges in the NFL, and the Seahawks are already navigating those realities.
Free agency has brought several significant developments for Seattle. The Seahawks prioritized keeping wide receiver and return specialist Rashid Shaheed, signing him to a three-year, $51 million deal after his impact during the 2025 season and postseason. Seattle also retained cornerback Josh Jobe, keeping continuity in the secondary. At the same time, the Seahawks have seen several notable departures from their championship roster. Running back Kenneth Walker III signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, while defensive contributors Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Boye Mafe have also moved on in free agency. Those moves raise important questions about how Seattle plans to fill those roles moving forward.
Gregg Bell on Kenneth Walker’s final year with the Seahawks
“I think Kenneth Walker was gone in September when they decided to do the job share with Zach Charbonnet,” Bell said. “He may have been gone in August when they didn’t approach him on a new contract.
“The players in the locker room understand how John Schneider does business,” Bell continued. “They know if you’re a foundational player, you get approached and sign more times than not a new deal going the summer or going into your contract year. And when so I asked Kenneth Walker in August, have they approached you about [a new contract]—we knew he didn’t have a new deal, but have they even approached you? And he said, ‘Not that I know of.’ And I always found Walker to be a straight shooting guy about stuff like that.
“Walker gave me the same answer when I talked to him four days before the Super Bowl in San Jose. He and I were just sitting around a round table aside from everybody else because he’s a shy guy. And I said, ‘Hey, how you doing dealing with this? How’s the season been for you, the job share and everything?’ He looked at me and said, ‘How would you feel?’ It told me there he wasn’t re-signing.
“I said to him, ‘Have they approached you yet? I know it’s the Super Bowl and you’re gearing up for the biggest game of your life, but have they approached you at all during the season or anytime about a new deal?’ And he said, ‘Not that I know of.’ The same answer he’d given me eight months earlier. So, I think he might have left for $5, let alone what he got from the Chiefs. Because he wanted to see what his market value was.”
“He realized he was never going to be more marketable than as the Super Bowl MVP at age 25. I mean, how you talk about lightning striking. So, go get yours. And you can’t blame especially a running back in this league who gets hurt tomorrow and his career is over for getting all he can when he can. And I don’t think the Seahawks begrudge him for that either.”
From there, the show will shift toward the Seahawks’ draft outlook. With the NFL Draft serving as a cornerstone of roster building, we’ll examine which positions Seattle could prioritize and how the front office might approach the board.
Another major topic will be coaching changes and how adjustments on the staff could influence the team’s identity heading into the next season. Coaching continuity, scheme evolution, and new voices in the building all play a role in shaping a team’s trajectory.
Throughout the episode, Gregg Bell will provide insight into how these decisions are being viewed around the organization and what they could mean for the Seahawks moving forward.
As always Stay Loud, Be Proud & Go Hawks!
0:30 – Intro and inside Seahawks’ offseason plan
17:39 – Seahawks free agency re-signings and acquisitions
32:39 – Seahawks draft outlook
55:26 – Q&A with the 12s!
