Kenneth Walker is set to be a free agent, and the Seahawks hope he sticks around.
We are edging closer to free agency, and for the Seattle Seahawks, we're getting closer to finding out how much they value Kenneth Walker.
The Super Bowl MVP is set to become a free agent in the coming weeks if the Seahawks can't agree to a long-term deal.
Reports that Seattle won't look to tag Walker put things in an interesting position ahead of free agency.
Zach Charbonnet will likely miss a fair chunk of 2026 after tearing his ACL, and if Walker leaves in free agency, the Seahawks could begin next season with a completely revamped running back room.
Of course, there is a world where Walker returns, but we expect it to be a pricy thing to accomplish.
But despite that, Seattle general manager John Schneider has reiterated his desire to have Walker remain with the franchise.
“We'd love to have Ken back,” Schneider said. “He knows us better than anybody. It's about our 70, and our collective and what that's going to look like. We'll have those meetings down here. We'll start talking to all the agents and we'll have a better feel where we're going here towards the end of the week.
"Obviously we want to have everybody back. When you get done with something special like that, you're like, "Let's run it back." It's going to be an interesting process.”
With the Seahawks having a handful of key players set to hit the free agency market, the franchise will have to work through its list and figure out who it wants to keep.
At the time of writing, Seattle has a little over $61 million in cap space, so there is no shortage of room if the franchise wants to retain Walker and others.
With an expected contract of at least $9 million APY being mentioned, and even as high as $12 million APY, if Seattle is to keep Walker, it will be a costly exercise.
Kenneth's value has never been higher, and you wouldn't begrudge him for trying to cash in; it just depends on how much the Seahawks are willing to pay.
Walker proved his value to the offense in the playoffs, and it would be easy to see Seattle sign him long-term. But money talks, and the Seahawks will have a price they won't go above.
Time will tell if both sides can come to an agreement to keep Walker a Seahawk.