The hope is that the Seattle Seahawks have more than four games left in the season. The team is trending toward making the postseason, which, of course, would add games to the number the team plays in 2025. If that postseason number has to be as much as four, that would be perfectly fine.
The team will have some serious questions to ask after the season ends, though. The Seahawks are currently projected to have $73,603,587 in cap space in 2026, but much of that might have to go to re-signing some key players whose rookie deals end in 2025. Three of those players follow.
The positive part is that general manager John Schneider has made some brilliant moves in terms of acquiring good veterans whose deals are not overly expensive and will be under contract through 2027. Quarterback Sam Darnold is one of those guys, and edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence is another.
Seattle Seahawks have to decide how much to spend on three key players in free agency
That means the Seattle Seahawks can choose how much they want to spend to bring some of their own players back. Seattle could do that and still have money left over.
Edge rusher Boye Mafe
Statistically speaking, Mafe has had a very odd year. He has just one sack, three quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss, which at first glance are extremely underwhelming. Those numbers are also well under Mafe's production from the previous two seasons.
However, according to ESPN, the edge rusher is winning 19 percent of his pass-rush snaps, eighth-best in the NFL. Maybe his ability to get pressure is actually allowing his teammates, such as veteran DeMarcus Lawrence, to clean up the mess Mafe is creating.
Clearly, the Seahawks will know how valuable Mafe is to Mike Macdonald's scheme and likely offer him a decent extension. The question will be whether another team will simply outbid Seattle.
Cornerback Riq Woolen
Getting a reading on how much, if any, money the Seahawks will offer Woolen in free agency is nearly impossible. He has received fewer snaps this season, but he is still getting 84 percent of them, and that isn't extremely unusual. He played 85 percent in 2023.
He has also had a bit of an up-and-down year. He was dreadful at the beginning of the season, especially in Week 1 when he almost single-handedly gave the San Francisco 49ers the victory. He has ticked up since, and hasn't allowed more than 38 yards receiving when targeted in any game since Week 1.
His overall quarterback rating allowed is a solid 72.2, which is the second-lowest of his career. Woolen has been better in run support this season as well. He still struggles to tackle, however. He has missed 23.3 percent of his tackle attempts in 2025
Running back Kenneth Walker
Not to jinx anything, but Walker may be on the verge of doing something he has never done in the NFL. That is to play every game during a specific season. He has missed at least two in each of his previous three years. He needed to prove he could stay healthy for the team to trust him enough to re-sign him, and he has done that so far.
The running back is also averaging 4.5 yards per carry, up nearly a yard over 2024. At his current pace, he would finish close to 1,000 yards (996), which might surprise some who don't believe the Seattle Seahawks run the ball effectively. His 1,224 total yards would also be the highest of his career.
The question surrounding Walker might simply be how much he wants to make. Seattle has Zach Charbonnet under contract in 2026 and could simply make him RB1 while drafting another back. Walker would be nice to have back, but only at the right price.