According to league sources cited by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday, the Seattle Seahawks are unlikely to apply either a franchise or transition tag on running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.
The Seahawks aim to retain several free agents and plan to pursue an extension for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Beginning Tuesday, NFL teams can start applying franchise or transition tags until March 3. yet, due to significant Super Bowl tax implications, sources indicated that utilizing a franchise tag this offseason is improbable for the Seahawks.
In the 29-13 win against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Walker amassed 135 rushing yards on 27 carries and caught two passes for 26 yards, becoming the first running back to earn MVP since Terrell Davis of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII after the 1997 season.
Walker is set to enter unrestricted free agency for the first time in March, having completed the final year of his rookie contract with a salary cap figure just under $2.7 million. The estimated value of the franchise tag for running backs is $14.5 million, while the transition tag would cost $11.7 million.
Under general manager John Schneider, the Seahawks have deployed the franchise tag only twice in 16 seasons.
This season, Walker rushed for 1,027 yards on 221 attempts, scoring five touchdowns while sharing time in the backfield with Zach Charbonnet. His 33 rushes of 10 or more yards during the regular season ranked sixth overall. Following Charbonnet’s torn ACL in the divisional round, Walker stepped up as the lead back, accumulating 417 scrimmage yards to top all players in the postseason.
ESPN’s Brady Henderson contributed to this report.
