Kenneth Walker III will be a free agent this coming offseason. That much must be known for the rest to matter. The running back has spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and there has certainly been some inconsistency in his production. But when he was needed most, he was brilliant.
That includes this postseason, when Walker has produced some of his best games. He has changed his running style a bit, adjusting as needed to Seattle's blocking scheme. Instead of hesitating before attacking the line of scrimmage, Walker hits holes faster, giving him the opportunity for even more explosive plays.
He always could create game-changing splash plays, and he has always seemingly remained himself even while some fans called for Zach Charnonnet to take over lead back duties. Walker has remained understated and softly spoken. His personality is as much of a fit in the Pacific Northwest as his play.
Kenneth Walker proves to be the kind of teammate the Seattle Seahawks need to keep around
When asked what's been working for him by the NFL Network's Stacey Dales during the run-up to Super Bowl 60 (as he has four rushing touchdowns in the postseason this year), the running back didn't speak about himself, but instead, humbly gave credit to others. This is not unexpected from Walker, as Seahawks fans know.
"The guys around me," Walker said. "The O-line, tight ends, wide receivers, they do their job and make my job, and George (Holani) job, a lot easier."
The statement is two-fold. One is that Walker could have simply discussed himself, any changes he might have made, his approach to his style, and many other things. The second part was bringing Holani at all. The running back has typically been RB3 at best and has missed several games due to injury.
The mere mention of Holani proves that Kenneth Walker sees him and his teammates as the same. Everyone matters, whether they be a highly-productive player statistically or someone who mostly plays special teams. Walker's view is one many of his teammates appear to hold as well.
Many Seattle Seahawks have spoken about how there are no strong egos to disrupt the team's culture. DK Metcalf and Geno Smith, both of whom could be emotionally volatile, were traded last offseason. The players that remained and were added had a team-centric focus. Teams built that way tend to play harder for their teammates than simply gaining individual accolades.
As for Walker, he does need to look out for himself this offseason. For the first time, he will be a free agent, and based on his 2025 performance, he should get a good pay increase. That might be potentially close to $10 million a season in a new deal. The Seattle Seahawks should be willing to pay that.