Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker during a press conference.
The Seattle Seahawks are not using the franchise tag on Kenneth Walker III, according to NFL insider Peter Schrager, putting the Super Bowl MVP on track to hit the open market. It also finally answers the question: Is Kenneth Walker A free agent? Yes, he will be now.
The NFL’s franchise/transition tag window closes Tuesday, March 3 at 4 p.m. ET, so Seattle’s choice had to be finalized now—and it directly shapes what happens once negotiations with other teams open next week.
Peter Schrager
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker will not be getting the franchise tag today, per sources. He will become a pure unrestricted free agent at the start of the league year. @ESPNNFL
Key Points
The Seahawks are not tagging Kenneth Walker III, per Peter Schrager.
NFL free agency’s legal tampering opens March 9, and the league year begins March 11 (4 p.m. ET).
ESPN previously reported Seattle was unlikely to tag Walker due to roster priorities and tag cost.
Seahawks News: Seattle not tagging Kenneth Walker and What it means for free agency
If Walker isn’t tagged, he’s positioned to become a true unrestricted free agent when the market opens. Teams can begin negotiating with agents during the legal tampering window March 9-11, and deals can become official once the new league year begins March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, per the NFL’s official calendar.
This is the “real” impact of the decision: Seattle loses the tag’s ability to lock in Walker on a one-year tender (or to control negotiations via match rights on the transition tag). Instead, the Seahawks will be competing with every RB-needy team that sees Walker’s postseason as a difference-maker.
Why Seattle would pass on the tag
ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously reported the Seahawks were unlikely to use either the franchise or transition tag on Walker, citing multiple roster needs and the team’s desire to work on other priorities (including an attempt to extend WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba).
Here’s the key mechanic: tagging a running back is expensive because it’s a fully guaranteed one-year number. ESPN pegged the projected RB tag at about $14.5 million (with a transition tag estimate also cited), which is a big bite for a position where teams often prefer multi-year structures or cheaper options.
And there’s a roster domino, too: as previously noted Walker’s backfield mate Zach Charbonnet tore his ACL in the divisional round, turning Walker into the featured postseason back and inflating both his workload and leverage heading into March.
Kenneth Walker III 2025 regular-season stats
Kenneth Walker III finished the 2025 regular season with 221 carries for 1,027 rushing yards (4.6 YPC) and 5 rushing TDs, plus 31 catches for 282 receiving yards.
Draft note: Walker was a 2022 second-round pick (No. 41 overall) out of Michigan State.
Kenneth Walker III 2025 postseason stats
In the 2025 playoffs (3 games), Walker totaled 65 rushing attempts for 313 yards (4.8 YPC) and 4 rushing TDs, adding 9 receptions for 104 yards.
In Super Bowl LX, he posted 161 total yards (including 135 rushing yards on 27 carries) and was named Super Bowl MVP, per NFL.com’s game recap.
Kenneth Walker III career stats
Across his NFL career through the 2025 season, Walker has 821 carries for 3,555 rushing yards (4.3 YPC) and 29 rushing TDs, plus 133 receptions for 1,005 receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs (58 games).
Fan reaction is already split
Seahawks fans immediately framed it as a value vs. leverage fight.
What happens next?
Negotiations go public fast. Once legal tampering opens March 9, it’s common to see “agreed to terms” reports quickly, especially at RB if multiple teams are shopping early.
Seattle can still re-sign him. Not tagging Walker doesn’t mean “gone,” but it does mean the Seahawks must win a market bidding process.
The contingency plan matters. If Walker prices himself out, Seattle’s RB room and offensive identity become an immediate offseason priority.