Kenneth Walker is the best running back on the NFL free agent market. He is ranked as the seventh best free agent available by the Athletic. The Seattle Seahawks for some strange reason did not decide to sign him to a long-term deal or give him a franchise tag. There is no doubt that Walker is going to be gaining major interest in free agency.
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Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrate with the Vince Lombardi trophy after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints, and the Kansas City Chiefs are some teams that could very well sign him this offseason. It will be interesting to see what kind of money he is going to get on the open market.
NFL Analyst Believes That Kenneth Walker Will Be Getting a Big Pay Day This Offseason
Daniel Popper of the Athletic listed Walker as a Top 10 free agent in this year’s class. He believes that Walker is going to get a four-year $52 million deal on the open market. Popper said,
“Walker played one of the best games of his career in a Super Bowl MVP performance against the Patriots. He rushed 27 times for 135 yards and added two catches for 26 yards. Walker gained nine first downs in the game, which tied a career high he set two weeks earlier in another standout performance against the 49ers in the divisional round. This playoff run showcased all the best attributes of Walker’s game.
He has a compact build with a low center of gravity that allows for impressive contact balance. He is elusive and shifty in short areas. He is excellent between the tackles, where he can use his vision and quickness to find creases, especially on inside-zone schemes. And he has the speed to attack the edges, both on designed stretch runs and bounces to the outside. He is a capable route runner, including from receiver alignments, and he has good yards-after-the-catch instincts on screens and checkdowns. Walker also has a sound base in pass protection. A well-rounded back who should parlay a Super Bowl ring into a long-term payday.”
Walker last season rushed for 1,027 yards on 221 carries and five touchdowns, along with averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He also caught 31 passes for 282 yards receiving and zero touchdowns, along with averaging 9.1 yards per reception. Walker is only 25 years old. It would be a major surprise to see Seattle let him go. With that being said, the Seahawks might be fine anyways, but another team is getting a potentially good player here.
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