Free Agents - Cap Space - who stays, who's gone

[auroraave]

I mean, why don't we just keep it real here. This team is not going to repeat. A lot of talent is going to slip away and they don't have the draft picks or cap space to replace what they're going to lose. Everything came together this season with regard to guys peaking at the right time and avoiding injuries and the team chemistry and we should feel very grateful for the great season we just witnessed and enjoyed. Darnold is a good quarterback but the only way you can keep getting back there any more is if you have a Brady/Mahomes type QB who can carry a team that otherwise has overall mediocre talent and is willing to make team-friendly deals so that they can retain other talented players.
Mediocre overall talent is what the Seahawks will have after they lose Walker, Shaheed, Woolen, Mafe, Jobe, etc. It will take a few years to retool if JS continues to kill it in the draft and make good FA acquisitions and trades, but they'll be taking a step backward in the mean time.

Seattle's biggest obstacle isn't free agency, that's a factor for sure, but they'll sign the right guys and keep the core together and will still very likely have a formidable defense that will keep them in most games while we look for the offense to improve or at least not regress. They are in a good position - good depth, solid QB play, etc. The biggest challenge is playing in the NFCW - peak patriots and chiefs NEVER played in a division with three 12 win teams. Next year any of the big three can win it all. Instead of a superstar QB, Seattle built a top shelf roster around a competent QB - the new way of thinking - especially with the low quality QB's coming out of college - due to the nature of the college game - and it's not going to get better any time soon.

[D-train]

JSN is not getting anywhere near 40 million, that's just absurd. For that price we could have both K9 & Shaheed. You don't spend a fortune on any one player thats not the QB. No 1 player is above everybody else. I hate saying get rid of JSN but just when stocks are high, you sell, sell, sell. No reason to think that he couldn't fetch a bundle on the open market. If he really wants to be paid top of the market, see ya. I'm not sacrificing anything just some diva WR can have all the glory & not even get 50% of the targets. I know the draft ain't great but with another 1st, possibly 2 imagine what you could do with those extra picks. Yes JSN is a big part of the offense, he isn't the only part. MM wants to be a run first team. Do you really need a superstar on the outside who's again not gonna get the bulk of the targets. You know Sam wants to spread it around. Especially with Fluery coming in, you know damn well he's gonna wanna utilize the TEs more, thus taking more targets away from JSN. Again while he's a great player, he's not the focal point of this offense. 1 player does not make up a team. I'd still invest in the OL, bring another Guard to plug in at RG, let Bradford walk, re-sign K9 & Shaheed & then draft somebody else. We don't need a true #1 in all honesty, we really don't. This offense runs through K9 first & foremost & with Charbs out for half the season, who do you think is gonna get a bulk of the touches. Again I'm not advocating trading JSN but if he really wants top of the market money, JS might have to seriously weigh his options. Especially if he wants to keep the continuity. Just something to think about.

It really doesn't matter what fans think. They plan to extend both JSN and Witherspoon:

https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/onsi/se ... e%20agency.

[Michael K.]

Seattle's biggest obstacle isn't free agency, that's a factor for sure, but they'll sign the right guys and keep the core together and will still very likely have a formidable defense that will keep them in most games while we look for the offense to improve or at least not regress. They are in a good position - good depth, solid QB play, etc. The biggest challenge is playing in the NFCW - peak patriots and chiefs NEVER played in a division with three 12 win teams. Next year any of the big three can win it all. Instead of a superstar QB, Seattle built a top shelf roster around a competent QB - the new way of thinking - especially with the low quality QB's coming out of college - due to the nature of the college game - and it's not going to get better any time soon.

Not having many draft picks is my biggest concern. I imagine the compensatory picks for next year are going to be decent, since we are most likely losing some guys. Brock said this morning that we have five of the top 39 ranked free agents. K9, Bryant, Shaheed, Mafe and Woolen. That doesn't help this draft though. Let's hope JS continues to hit HRs this year, even with limited picks to bridge to next year. Maybe we fill a hole with a FA or two, and stay at the top of the NFC. It will be a pretty big challenge, since as you mentioned, there is very little wiggle room in this division. I also think that the Bears, Packers and Eagles are probably better than everyone in the AFC.

I'm also very interested to see what the offense looks like with new coaches. I was sure not sold on Kubiak before the season, and week one didn't change my mind. But pretty hard to argue with what this team did pretty much every week after week one on offense.

[trharder]

I mean, why don't we just keep it real here. This team is not going to repeat. A lot of talent is going to slip away and they don't have the draft picks or cap space to replace what they're going to lose. Everything came together this season with regard to guys peaking at the right time and avoiding injuries and the team chemistry and we should feel very grateful for the great season we just witnessed and enjoyed. Darnold is a good quarterback but the only way you can keep getting back there any more is if you have a Brady/Mahomes type QB who can carry a team that otherwise has overall mediocre talent and is willing to make team-friendly deals so that they can retain other talented players.
Mediocre overall talent is what the Seahawks will have after they lose Walker, Shaheed, Woolen, Mafe, Jobe, etc. It will take a few years to retool if JS continues to kill it in the draft and make good FA acquisitions and trades, but they'll be taking a step backward in the mean time.

It's always difficult to win the SB, but the Seahawks should, and will be, the favorites to do so. They will not be losing enough players
to even remotely consider it a re-tool for 2026 season. 2028 might be interesting, but for right now, this team is in great shape.

[auroraave]

Seattle's biggest obstacle isn't free agency, that's a factor for sure, but they'll sign the right guys and keep the core together and will still very likely have a formidable defense that will keep them in most games while we look for the offense to improve or at least not regress. They are in a good position - good depth, solid QB play, etc. The biggest challenge is playing in the NFCW - peak patriots and chiefs NEVER played in a division with three 12 win teams. Next year any of the big three can win it all. Instead of a superstar QB, Seattle built a top shelf roster around a competent QB - the new way of thinking - especially with the low quality QB's coming out of college - due to the nature of the college game - and it's not going to get better any time soon.

Not having many draft picks is my biggest concern. I imagine the compensatory picks for next year are going to be decent, since we are most likely losing some guys. Brock said this morning that we have five of the top 39 ranked free agents. K9, Bryant, Shaheed, Mafe and Woolen. That doesn't help this draft though. Let's hope JS continues to hit HRs this year, even with limited picks to bridge to next year. Maybe we fill a hole with a FA or two, and stay at the top of the NFC. It will be a pretty big challenge, since as you mentioned, there is very little wiggle room in this division. I also think that the Bears, Packers and Eagles are probably better than everyone in the AFC.

I'm also very interested to see what the offense looks like with new coaches. I was sure not sold on Kubiak before the season, and week one didn't change my mind. But pretty hard to argue with what this team did pretty much every week after week one on offense.

100%. Draft capital is low this year - definitely concerning. But, at least we aren't entering the draft with a bunch of glaring issues - we have quality depth on both sides of the ball, and an enviable cap situation. I would imagine JS is looking to trade someone or trade out of the first round to acquire more picks. I've not heard this is a particularly strong draft class either. Still hard to wrap my mind around the fact we went 4-0 vs SK and LA down the stretch and went 14-1 - no one had that on thier bingo card. Still seems surreal.

[Donn Beach]

Though it is considered a weak draft

[trharder]

Brock said this morning that we have five of the top 39 ranked free agents. K9, Bryant, Shaheed, Mafe and Woolen.

RE - K9 - I think they better re-sign him, even if it's a little over what they wanted to pay. He's a bird in the hand. If you want
to run the ball like they always say, how can you start a campaign to repeat without a known quantity at RB? K9 was, IMO,
actually getting better the last part of the season, like he had finally seen the light and learned to be patient and trust his
blocking. I say this as a guy that actually preferred Charb for the first half of last season, so I wasn't in love with the guy.

RE - Bryant - He's good. Does anyone actually think the team is going to tank without him? I don't. I'll trust JS to re-sign him
or replace him. The white guy filled in nicely for him anyway.

RE - Shaheed - How much can a team pay a return threat? He seemed average as a receiver. If it's him or K9, then it's got to
be K9, but I don't know if that's an actual dilemma. Horton can return and did before the injury. I don't think the team falls
apart without him and I bet there's more to a special teams return TD than just the returner.

RE- Mafe - He's good. I don't think they ever planned on re-signing him to a big contract though. SB win or not.

RE - Woolen - fuck that guy. see ya'.

[Michael K.]

100%. Draft capital is low this year - definitely concerning. But, at least we aren't entering the draft with a bunch of glaring issues - we have quality depth on both sides of the ball, and an enviable cap situation. I would imagine JS is looking to trade someone or trade out of the first round to acquire more picks. I've not heard this is a particularly strong draft class either. Still hard to wrap my mind around the fact we went 4-0 vs SK and LA down the stretch and went 14-1 - no one had that on thier bingo card. Still seems surreal.

I've done a few simulators, and while I'm not all that versed just yet on who is available? I have traded down in pretty much every one of the drafts...often times adding picks next year. I just don't see a ton of value and talent in what usually falls to me. Good problem to have, and while five high quality Free Agents seems like a lot, it isn't do or die. I imagine we resign Bryant, and I really do think they value Shaheed more than many of the fans. He is a game breaker with his speed. I firmly believe he would have been putting up similar if not the same numbers as Horton had he been the guy, but he's better than Horton in the return game. He might be better than everyone in the return game.

I think we let Woolen test the market, and chances are someone signs him for more than we are willing to. I don't think they even look too hard at Mafe. K9 is the Wildcard in my opinion. Brock has mentioned that they might be targeting Jonah Coleman in the draft. I don't think he is the game breaker that K9 is though. This is more interesting since Charbo is out.

[HawkandMariner88]

Brock said this morning that we have five of the top 39 ranked free agents. K9, Bryant, Shaheed, Mafe and Woolen.

RE - K9 - I think they better re-sign him, even if it's a little over what they wanted to pay. He's a bird in the hand. If you want
to run the ball like they always say, how can you start a campaign to repeat without a known quantity at RB? K9 was, IMO,
actually getting better the last part of the season, like he had finally seen the light and learned to be patient and trust his
blocking. I say this as a guy that actually preferred Charb for the first half of last season, so I wasn't in love with the guy.

RE - Bryant - He's good. Does anyone actually think the team is going to tank without him? I don't. I'll trust JS to re-sign him
or replace him. The white guy filled in nicely for him anyway.

RE - Shaheed - How much can a team pay a return threat? He seemed average as a receiver. If it's him or K9, then it's got to
be K9, but I don't know if that's an actual dilemma. Horton can return and did before the injury. I don't think the team falls
apart without him and I bet there's more to a special teams return TD than just the returner.

RE- Mafe - He's good. I don't think they ever planned on re-signing him to a big contract though. SB win or not.

RE - Woolen - fuck that guy. see ya'.

Give me those 1st 3, the other 2 can walk. K9 won't cost that much. Coby not gonna break the bank by any means, Shaheed is a useful tool you need. He ain't gonna break the bank either. You can utilize him in a number of different ways. Get creative just like with JSN. That's plenty of money to go around.

[Donn Beach]

Okay, my wager is Walker walks and Rasheed re-signs. Walker isn't exactly the love fest that Rasheed is. See where he commented on not being happy with how he was used the earlier part of the season. Characterized it as a lot of late night phone calls to his father. But mainly I don't see JS overpaying for him. That seems to be the narrative. For as much as they might seem to need walker I'm guessing JS will refuse to factor that in.

See where JS talked about wanting Rasheed from when they played the Saints in 2025. Everything about that trade indicates a desire to keep him. But it's really going to turn on Rasheeds stated desire to stay since it's going to take signing in the $8-9 mil range.