It's been roughly a month since the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl LX victory, but the time for celebrating is over. The rest of the NFL is striving to dethrone them by any means necessary, including prying away key pieces of their squad.
The Seahawks must hit the ground running this offseason, starting with free agency, whether that means retaining their own or making external additions. Atop the list of in-house players set to hit the open market are running back Kenneth Walker III and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed.
They will each garner substantial interest from several clubs, though one NFC foe ostensibly looms large: the Washington Commanders.
ESPN's Dan Graziano projected the contract values and landing spots of the top 20 upcoming free agents. He forecasts both Walker and Shaheed to leave Seattle and join the Commanders.
Seattle Seahawks forecasted to watch RB Kenneth Walker and WR Rashid Shaheed join Commanders
At this point, seeing Walker or Shaheed take their talents elsewhere shouldn't come as too much of a shock. After all, the Seahawks seemingly let them test the waters upon failing to find common ground on extensions. However, losing two dynamic playmakers to a conference challenger is far from ideal.
Graziano predicts Walker to secure a three-year, $44 million contract from the Commanders that includes $22 million guaranteed. Washington desperately needs a backfield makeover, so it'd make sense to splurge on who many consider to be the top tailback available. That aligns with recent intel that the reigning Super Bowl MVP has likely priced himself out of the Seahawks' range.
Seattle acquired Shaheed ahead of this past season's trade deadline, though he may prove to be merely a rental (a difference-making one at that).
The two sides reportedly didn't come close to reaching an agreement on a new deal. Knowing this, Graziano's prognostications have the explosive wideout heading to Washington on a three-year, $40 million pact with $20 million in assurances.
We all witnessed Seattle hoist the Lombardi Trophy not too long ago. With that in mind, it's not surprising to think a rival front office would try to replicate their formula for success — literally. Like it or not, this is what comes with winning at the highest level; the champagne doesn't taste so good now, huh?
Washington adding playmakers of Walker and Shaheed's caliber could go a long way. Not only would that make life for their young star quarterback, Jayden Daniels, much easier, but it'd also come at Seattle's expense. The Commanders can effectively kill two birds with one stone, helping themselves while weakening the defending champions.