A general manager’s work is never done. Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider recently agreed to contract extensions with two of his defensive stars – Leonard Williams and Devon Witherspoon.
That came on the heels of extending a couple of offensive mainstays – Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Charles Cross. But there is a lot of talent on this Seahawks roster, and plenty of other players will be looking for longer contracts and bigger payoffs in the near future. Who might be next on Schneider’s to-do list?
The club has several obvious candidates for extensions. These are core players, all still in their prime, who are signed through the 2027 season. The idea would be to work out deals with some or all of them before they ever get close to free agency, giving both the player and the team security.
5 Seattle Seahawks who need a strong year to show they belong to stick around
That’s what Schneider did with the above-mentioned players, and what he will probably attempt with the likes of Sam Darnold, Julian Love, Ernest Jones IV, and A.J. Barner.
Barring injury, those players would need to play themselves out of an extension. Then there is a group of other young Seahawks who are in the opposite position. They could earn extensions, but they will need to have strong 2026 seasons to do so.
At the end of the day, Schneider may not have the cap room for every player he wants. Even those virtual locks mentioned above may go the way of Kenneth Walker III or Coby Bryant.
In a way, the more borderline players are more likely to get extensions should they prove valuable in 2026. They won’t cost nearly as much as the stars. Other clubs may not value them as highly. Schneider can fill out the back half of his roster with proven contributors who know the scheme and the culture.
But they still have to earn the contract because John Schneider also tends to draft well. He is confident he can find new blood when necessary.
Drake Thomas, LB
Thomas didn’t exactly come out of nowhere in 2025. He had been with the team since 2023. But the UDFA had been a special teamer. Before 2025, he had played just 41 defensive snaps in the NFL. Last year, he played 763. When Tyrice Knight was slowed by injury, Thomas seized a starting spot and never relinquished it.
Thomas is the type of young, active linebacker Mike Macdonald values. But Seattle may prioritize one of its team leaders, Ernest Jones IV, over Thomas, and Schneider may have to set a limit on how much he is willing to spend on linebackers.
Tyrice Knight, LB
While on the subject of linebackers and salary limits, Tyrice Knight is in a fascinating situation. When the 2024 season ended, Knight was the young linebacker who appeared to be at the forefront in Seattle’s plans for the future.
He had stepped into the starting lineup midway through his rookie season in 2024, when Macdonald realized the linebacking room needed a complete overhaul. Knight, now paired with the newly arrived Jones, performed very well.
Then, as mentioned, he was slowed by injury, and Thomas took over. Tyrcie Knight is the exact type of player a smart GM from another club might target as a low-cost, high-upside option should he become a free agent in 2027. If he gets back on the field this year, Knight could force a difficult decision for Schneider.
Nehemiah Pritchett, CB
Let’s finish off the defense. When he was a rookie, Nehemiah Pritchett appeared to be holding on by the skin of his teeth. He earned his spot based on quality special teams play and also because, quite frankly, cornerbacks are constantly getting injured, and smart GMs don’t simply toss promising young ones aside.
Pritchett still has not played a lot of defense for Seattle, but when he has gotten onto the field, he now looks more comfortable. Schneider is clearly still tinkering with his cornerbacks. Trevon Diggs and Terrion Arnold clearly complicate the forecast. If Pritchett shows this year that he can be relied on as a depth corner in addition to his role on special teams, he might be worthy of a modest extension.
Christian Haynes, G
If starting right guard Anthony Bradford leaves via free agency after this season, Seattle will have a hole to fill on its line. There are a lot of candidates currently on the roster, and Schneider won’t hesitate to draft or sign others if he feels the need.
When Haynes arrived in the third round of the 2024 draft, many observers thought he was destined to be the right guard of the future. It hasn’t worked out that way.
But there is still time. Haynes needs to prove he can function in the Seahawks zone blocking scheme to elevate his profile. Mason Richman was playing well before his injury in the second preseason game, and Schneider traded up in this draft to select Beau Stephens.
With other options waiting in the wings, extending Haynes would seem to be a low priority. Unless, that is, he really stands out this season.
Brady Russell, FB
On the one hand, I am tempted to say that Brady Russell is not going anywhere anytime soon. He is one of the spiritual leaders of the team. The hair, the wild man play on special teams. And now, with Robbie Ouzts unavailable, a bigger role as a blocker on offense.
On the other hand, Ouzts should be back next year, and Seattle seems to have a never-ending supply of effective madmen on special teams. I have little doubt that Schneider and Macdonald want Russell on their team for many years to come, but will he be a priority? A good 2026 could make that more likely.
Of course, there is a flip side to all this. If a player performs too well, he will garner far more league-wide interest and his price tag shoots up.
In other words, if you are trying to gauge how likely it is that any of these borderline players will be extended before they reach free agency, keep in mind that they must play well enough in 2026 to earn the new deal, but not so well that they price themselves out of the Seahawks' budget.
John Schneider has a lot of work to do. He won’t be able to extend everyone, no matter how much he may want to.
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