It’s not just the youth of the Seahawks that is eliciting “potential dynasty” talk in the wake of their 29-13 win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
It’s how the team’s roster and salary cap align.
Of the 24 starters in the big game — including specialists — only three are not under team control for the 2026 season and can become unrestricted free agents.
Those three include Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III as well as two key members of the secondary in safety Coby Bryant and cornerback Josh Jobe. Riq Woolen, who shares time at one corner spot with Jobe, can be an unrestricted free agent as can key rotational edge rusher Boye Mafe and receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed.
The Seahawks, on paper, have plenty of financial flexibility to keep things together if they want, listed with just over $72 million in overall cap space by OverTheCap.com, and $62 million in effective space, meaning the amount they have when subtracting commitments such as draft picks. Each ranks sixth among NFL teams.
Let’s take a closer look at where things stand for the Seahawks heading into the offseason:
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Free agents
Unrestricted
S Coby Bryant — The Seahawks and Bryant had talks before the season, but no agreement was reached. He might test free agency after starting 15 games this year and two more in the postseason.
Running back Kenneth Walker III — The Seahawks aren’t thought to have had talks with Walker, and he appeared almost certain to hit free agency before Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the divisional round against the 49ers. Walker went on to win MVP in the Super Bowl. That Charbonnet might not be ready for the start of the 2026 season could mean more urgency to re-sign Walker. The Super Bowl only raised his price tag.
Cornerback Josh Jobe — Jobe was one of the team’s unsung heroes this season as a willing and able tackler on the perimeter, but he seems likely to be available at a decent price to retain.
Cornerback Riq Woolen — Despite an erratic season, Woolen figures to have a strong market because of the potential shown in 2022. The Seahawks have seemed to be preparing as if he won’t be back, though who knows if the Super Bowl run has changed things.
Receiver/returner Rashid Shaheed — Shaheed said when he arrived in November that he wants to stay in Seattle. His importance in the return game might have raised his price tag but also makes it even more imperative that the Seahawks retain him.
Edge rusher Boye Mafe — Mafe had only two sacks after making 15 combined the previous two seasons, but his metrics getting pressure and defending the run looked a lot better than that stat line. He could well get an offer that will price him out of Seattle.
Tackle Josh Jones — Jones played this season on a one-year contract and was a valued reserve as the third offensive tackle. The Seahawks might want to open up playing time for some of their younger linemen.
Receiver Dareke Young — Young had some big plays on special teams this season and would seem a player they want back.
Linebacker Chazz Surratt — Surratt played in 11 games on special teams and would seem a player the Seahawks will want back.
Restricted free agents
Restricted free agents are players the Seahawks can retain by tendering a qualifying offer, which gives them the right to match any other offers the player might get. They can re-sign them to a conventional contract at any time.
The Seahawks have seven RFAs: snapper Chris Stoll, receivers Jake Bobo and Cody White, linebacker Drake Thomas, tight end Brady Russell, defensive lineman Brandon Pili and safety AJ Finley.
They have two exclusive rights free agents, players they can retain merely by giving them a qualifying offer — safety Ty Okada and running back George Holani.
Extension candidates
Seahawk general manager John Schneider’s most challenging decisions of the offseason might not involve free agents but figuring out which of his players who are still under contract to offer extensions.
Players who are eligible for extensions include all of the members of the 2023 draft class, notably receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, cornerback Devon Witherspoon and rush end Derick Hall, who will all be entering the final year of their rookie deals in 2026.
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The Seahawks could exercise options for the 2027 seasons on Witherspoon and Smith-Njigba since they were first-round picks, which would assure they stay for a fifth year. They could also exercise the option and work out a deal later as the Seahawks did this season with left tackle Charles Cross.
The deadline to exercise the options is May 1.
According to OverTheCap.com, exercising Witherspoon’s option for the 2027 season would guarantee him $21.41 million, while picking up Smith-Njigba’s would guarantee him $18.003 million.
Each player, based on how they performed this season, would be a bargain at that rate for the Seahawks.
Smith-Njigba’s four-year rookie deal guaranteed him $14.417 million, including a base salary of just $2.715 million in 2026.
The average value of that deal — $4.587 million — would rank him 48th in the NFL among receivers next season, via Spotrac.com.
Witherspoon is in a similar situation.
His four-year rookie deal as the No. 5 pick in 2023 pays him a fully guaranteed $31.861 million. The contract average of $7.965 million ranks Witherspoon 33rd in the NFL in 2026, according to Spotrac.com.
Each can make a case for being paid at the top of their positional wage scale — for JSN that would be topping $30 million a season and for Witherspoon in the $25-30 million range — and the Seahawks might well try to make that happen this offseason.
As noted earlier, the Seahawks have plenty of cap space to make some moves.
As the JSN and Witherspoon situations show, much of the Seahawks’ cap space could be used in keeping the team together rather than making additions.
Draft picks
The Seahawks don’t have a lot of draft capital with just four picks in the 2026 draft, thanks in part to giving their fourth- and fifth-rounders to New Orleans for Shaheed in November.
Their four picks at the moment are Nos. 32, 64, 96 and 212 (though the exact spot of the last one could change based on where compensatory picks are slotted).
Seahawks fans might not need reminding how Schneider turned four picks heading into the draft in 2019 into 11 selections.
The Seahawks will get a better idea of what they want to do in the draft when the usual contingent of team coaches and personnel execs attends the NFL scouting combine from Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis.
The NFL draft is April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.
Bob Condotta: bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Bob Condotta is a sports reporter at The Seattle Times who primarily covers the Seahawks but also dabbles in other sports. He has worked at The Times since 2002, reporting on University of Washington Husky football and basketball for his first 10 years at the paper before switching to the Seahawks in 2013.