John Schneider
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Seahawks' general manager John Schneider may have to pick between Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed in free agency
The Seattle Seahawks are riding high after winning Super Bowl LX, but life in the NFL moves fast, meaning the team is already facing some big decisions when it comes to their upcoming offseason of work. What the Seahawks do over the next few months could determine just how successful they are in their quest to repeat as champions in 2026.
As the leader of the front office, general manager John Schneider is going to have his work cut out for him, even though his team just won a championship. Seattle has several key players set to hit the open market, and on offense, one writer believes that the team may have to choose between running back Kenneth Walker III and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed in free agency this offseason.
Seahawks Face Kenneth Walker III, Rashid Shaheed Free Agency Dilemma
Both Walker and Shaheed played big roles for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl run. Walker was perhaps the most important piece of the team’s success on offense against the New England Patriots, as he racked up over 160 total yards on his way to winning Super Bowl MVP honors. Shaheed, meanwhile, was picked up in a deal with the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline, serving as a big-play threat on offense and the team’s top punt returner.
With both guys set to hit the open market, though, Schneider has some tough decisions to make. Behind Walker on the depth chart is another capable starting option, Zach Charbonnet, which makes the case for re-signing him a bit more difficult. On the other hand, Seattle just invested some significant draft capital in Shaheed, which could incentivize the front office to bring him back.
Walker’s MVP performance in the Super Bowl will make it tough for the team to let him walk. According to Bill Barnwell of ESPN, the fact that both of these guys are expected to receive similar sorts of money on the open market makes it more than likely that Schneider will have pick one or the other when it comes to his quest to re-sign them both.
“I’d like to see Shaheed get a full offseason with an offense to see what he can do, and he adds meaningful value as a returner, which should compensate for the relative lack of receiving work,” Barnwell wrote. “He and Walker might end up in the same financial ballpark, which could create a pick-one-or-the-other scenario for GM John Schneider.”
What Should the Seahawks Do About Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed?
John Schneider
GettySeahawks’ general manager John Schneider may have to pick between Kenneth Walker III and Rashid Shaheed in free agency
In a perfect world, Seattle would be able to re-sign both Walker and Shaheed, but salary cap limitations may ultimately prevent the team from doing so. And if Schneider has to pick between the two, it seems like it would make more sense to re-sign Shaheed instead of Walker for a handful of reasons.
Walker has been productive during his time with the Seahawks, but Charbonnet is capable of handling a larger workload (once he comes back from a torn ACL, of course). Beyond that, Seattle just traded for Shaheed, and he fills multiple roles for the team. Anything could happen in the NFL, but if Schneider and the front office have to pick one guy, Shaheed feels like the more realistic candidate to return to town.