The Seattle Seahawks are predicted to lose two prominent Super Bowl contributors — running back Kenneth Walker III and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed — to the Washington Commanders in free agency, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Both players are projected to sign deals worth at least $40 million across three years with Washington, a scenario that strips Seattle of its offensive core in one offseason.
Super Bowl Aftermath: Why Seattle’s Offense Faces a Rebuild
Walker earned Super Bowl MVP honors during Seattle’s championship run. Shaheed earned All-Pro recognition as one of the league’s most explosive perimeter threats. Losing both to the same division rival amplifies the damage considerably.
Seattle’s offensive identity was built around the Walker-Shaheed combination during its Super Bowl run. Walker’s burst between the tackles defined Seattle’s time-of-possession strategy and red zone efficiency. Shaheed’s target share and yards after catch gave the offense a vertical dimension that complemented the run game.
Together, they were not interchangeable parts — they were the engine. Seattle’s offensive coordinator will face a schematic reset heading into the 2026 season, based on data from their championship campaign. The dual departure, if it materializes, would rank among the more consequential roster shifts of the 2026 NFL offseason.
Graziano’s projection places both players in Washington, giving the Commanders an immediate upgrade at two premium skill positions. Washington would absorb roughly $80 million or more in combined obligations — a substantial cap commitment that reflects how the front office values this pairing. Any franchise absorbing that level of cap expenditure at skill positions must weigh depth at other spots, particularly along the offensive line and in the secondary.
What the $40 Million Deal Structure Means for Each Player
Each projected deal is valued at a minimum of $40 million across three years, per Graziano. At roughly $13.3 million per year on average, Walker’s contract would place him among the higher-paid running backs in the NFL. Shaheed’s deal at a similar floor reflects the premium on receivers who generate explosive plays from the slot and on the outside.
From a salary cap standpoint, these structures carry implications beyond annual average value. Signing bonuses, guaranteed money, and void years will determine how much dead cap each team absorbs if deals are restructured or cut short. For Washington, front-loading guarantees to attract two players at once signals a front office operating with urgency.
For Seattle, the inability — or unwillingness — to match those figures reflects either cap constraints or a deliberate pivot toward rebuilding through the draft. Free agency projections, even from credible analysts like Graziano, carry inherent uncertainty. Player preferences, late bidding from rival franchises, and last-minute cap maneuvering by Seattle could alter the outcome. The numbers favor Washington as the frontrunner, but the market for elite skill-position players rarely resolves cleanly.
Key Developments in the Seattle-Washington Free Agency Picture
Graziano predicts both Walker and Shaheed sign with Washington, not separate teams.
Each projected deal is valued at a minimum of $40 million across three years, totaling at least $80 million combined for the Commanders.
Walker earned Super Bowl MVP honors during Seattle’s title run, making him one of the most decorated free agents at his position this cycle.
Shaheed earned All-Pro recognition, reflecting elite production at wide receiver during the Seahawks’ championship campaign.
Seattle also faces free agency decisions on defensive players Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, and Boye Mafe, compounding the attrition challenge.
How Seattle Recovers From Losing Its Super Bowl Core
Seattle’s path forward depends on draft strategy and whether the front office can identify cost-controlled replacements at running back and wide receiver. The Seahawks hold draft capital that could address both positions, though finding a Walker-caliber back or a Shaheed-level receiver in one draft class is an unlikely outcome.
The defensive departures compound the problem. Bryant, Woolen, Jobe, and Mafe represent significant depth chart attrition on that side of the ball. Championship rosters always face personnel turnover, but the concentration of exits at premium positions creates a steep rebuilding curve.
Seattle’s front office must prioritize ruthlessly — likely choosing between retaining defensive scheme pieces or committing cap space to offensive replacements. The target share and snap count vacated by Walker and Shaheed will not be filled by committee production alone. Seattle’s cap decisions from this offseason will define the franchise’s competitive window through 2028.
Washington, by contrast, would enter 2026 with a dramatically upgraded offensive personnel grouping. Pairing Walker’s downhill running with Shaheed’s route-running precision gives the Commanders a multi-threat attack that opposing defenses must account for on every play-action snap. If Graziano’s projection holds, Washington’s front office will have executed one of the more aggressive skill-position acquisitions of this free agency period.
Who is predicted to leave the Seahawks for the Commanders in free agency?
ESPN’s Dan Graziano predicts the Seattle Seahawks will lose running back Kenneth Walker III and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed to the Washington Commanders. Both players are projected to sign deals worth at least $40 million across three years with Washington.
How much are Walker and Shaheed expected to earn in free agency?
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, both players are projected to sign contracts worth at least $40 million across three years with the Washington Commanders, representing a minimum combined commitment of $80 million.
What did Kenneth Walker III accomplish in the Super Bowl?
Walker earned Super Bowl MVP honors during the Seattle Seahawks’ championship run, making him one of the most decorated free agent running backs entering the 2026 offseason, per Sporting News citing ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Which Seahawks defensive players are also hitting free agency?
Beyond the offensive departures, Seattle faces free agency decisions on cornerbacks Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Josh Jobe, plus edge rusher Boye Mafe, according to Sporting News.
What honor did Rashid Shaheed earn with the Seahawks?
Shaheed earned All-Pro recognition as a wide receiver during the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl run, establishing himself as one of the premier perimeter threats in the NFL heading into free agency, per Sporting News.
Jake Whitmore is a small-town Texas reporter who worked his way up from covering Friday night high school football to the NFL. With over nine years in sports journalism, Jake writes like he is talking to fans at a tailgate -- direct, passionate, and full of the enthusiasm that makes football Sundays special. He covers game previews, roster moves, and the fan perspective on every major NFL storyline.
