It’s not every day a Super Bowl MVP is expected to hit the open market in free agency, but it appears the award’s most recent winner is now positioned to choose his next destination. Kenneth Walker III just won a ring with the Seattle Seahawks, but his time with the franchise could come to an end based on recent developments.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks are not expected to place the franchise tag or transition tag on Walker by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. EST deadline. As a result, the star halfback will enter unrestricted free agency.
This marks something of a surprising move in Seattle as the franchise comes off a win in Super Bowl LX last month. While contract discussions with other impending free agents such as Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe and Rashid Shaheed are surely ongoing in the front office, Walker played a major role for the team during its championship run. He rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season, catching 31 passes for an additional 282 yards as well. Those marks came despite splitting time with fellow running back Zach Charbonnet in a true timeshare, though the latter suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the Divisional Round of the postseason.
Upon assuming a workhorse role following his teammate’s injury, Walker produced 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs, also garnering 104 yards on nine receptions. In the Super Bowl, his 161 scrimmage yards helped propel the Seahawks to their first title in over a decade — also securing Super Bowl LX MVP and what will assuredly be a nice payday in free agency.
So, what teams may be interested in acquiring Walker’s services in the coming weeks?
For starters, a return to Seattle certainly isn’t impossible. While the two sides haven’t been able to come to an agreement, which could sink some goodwill he may feel for the franchise, signing another deal with the team that drafted him remains a possibility after spending the first four years of his career in the Pacific Northwest. Of course, the Seahawks do have other players to pay with their $58 million in cap space, plus Charbonnet is still under contract and could return at some point during the upcoming season. If Walker is seeking the biggest payday and role possible, that probably won’t come in Seattle. With the team declining to place the $14.293 million franchise tag on him, the front office may simply not be interested in paying a halfback.
However, there will surely be plenty of interest from other teams.
Of franchises with plenty of salary cap space to work with, there are a couple of suitors who make sense. The Washington Commanders should be considered a frontrunner in this sweepstakes with about $70.3 million in cap room to work with and a backfield devoid of elite talent — after leaning on Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. this past season, the writing could be on the wall for such a move. An RPO game with a healthy Jayden Daniels under center and Walker in the backfield would become one of the NFL’s more intriguing offensive attacks. If the halfback prefers to sign with a roster already poised as a contender, perhaps the Denver Broncos could make something work with their $25 million in space to run Walker as the lead option and push RJ Harvey into a secondary role.
Those are two of the most attractive options. Of course, he could also head to the Tennessee Titans if they decide to offer him a hefty contract with their league-leading $94 million in cap space and an offense devoid of playmakers to complement second-year quarterback Cam Ward. If Walker wants money and a workhorse role, Tennessee could prove a sleeper for his services.
Otherwise, the market appears more uncertain. The New York Giants make plenty of sense as a potential suitor given recent reporting that new head coach John Harbaugh wants to lean into a tough, smash-mouth style of football with emphasis on the run game. However, they have very little room to work with under the cap, as do the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings — two possible contenders with obvious needs at the running back position, though both would need to make significant moves to clear enough money for Walker. A move to either of those fantasy-friendly situations may prove difficult.
Wherever the halfback winds up, his new team will receive a talented playmaker who has proven himself on the biggest stage possible.
NFL free agency begins at the start of the new league year on March 11.
