K9. Saddle up and pay or not?

[onanygivensunday]

The FA RB market will essentially make John's decision.

Like many here, I believe that Walker's market price will be in the $9M-$10M/year range... and I predict that John will re-sign him because he thinks that it is fair... and affordable.

However, if his market unexpectedly climbs to more than $12M/year, I believe that John will pivot away from Walker and look to sign a UFA replacement to pair with Holani until Charbs is ready to step back in (late 2026 season).

Last thought... I doubt that Walker is at the top of John's list right now because the situation at EDGE is a bit more tenuous... given Mafe becoming an UFA and Chenna's contract-expiring $20M cap hit for 2026. I'm looking for Chenna to be extended first... and then Walker likely next. jmo

 

[Mick063]

For those that claim a rookie cannot take K9's place I suggest that you look no further than K9's production as a rookie relative to the rest of his career. His own track record suggests that a rookie is more than capable of taking his place. The NFL is all about bang for the buck. It isn't just about being the best player. It is about delivering the best value. The pay scale must always be proportionally factored into the equation.

 

[Ozzy]

The more I think about this the more I think he's gone. The history of signing running backs to contracts off their rookie deal just isn't very good. Combined with the fact he isn't great in pass pro and I just think they go another route unless he's super cheap. I just doubt that happens because he's a very talented runner and someone will pay him for that. If he's back for a good price I'll be pumped I just don't see it.

 

[Bobblehead]

I don't understand why we can so easily dismiss the value of having K9. He's been so instrumental in Sam's and the Seahawks success this year. I don't see anyone in this year's class of rbs that will do what K9 will give us. 10-12 million, is that too much? They give receuvers 2 or 3 times as much for less production. K9 is what Sam and this offense is built upon. Without him, all we will see is massive amounts of blindside blitzes.

 

[Silver Hawk]

I don't understand why we can so easily dismiss the value of having K9. He's been so instrumental in Sam's and the Seahawks success this year. I don't see anyone in this year's class of rbs that will do what K9 will give us. 10-12 million, is that too much? They give receuvers 2 or 3 times as much for less production. K9 is what Sam and this offense is built upon. Without him, all we will see is massive amounts of blindside blitzes.

While I don’t agree, I can understand the reasoning behind the various “we can move on” posts. They can make sense in some situation where you actually have a solid plan B. Unfortunately, that isn’t the Seahawk situation.

Mess this up and we have no running game next season. None. Guess what happens to the pass game at that point. Guess what happens to Sam. Seriously, Holani as the bell cow or just “hope” that we can draft a viable running back or “hope” that we can sign some cheaper guy in free agency? My boss would fire me for that level of strategic planning.

I’ll add -

- I don’t think anyone is advocating signing a massive, problematic contract.

- Everyone can agree that rookie running backs can be good (if you can draft them and they actually pan out). BTW, the Seahawks only have the last pick in draft rounds 1,2 and 3, and one pick in the 6th. I’d rather see them use that elsewhere, as opposed to a RB. Especially since the one you need is right here.

- Everyone can agree that good backs can be found in free agency but - it’s a gamble that you can get the person you want and that you can get them at the price you want.

The problem is that the Seahawks just don’t have good options to fix this in less than a handful of months. The surest route is to take what’s right in front of you with K9, without doing something that seriously harms other objectives.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Be careful what you wish for. Just sayin.

 

[Seahawker]

Some of you guys act like the "Don't over pay K9, could take him or leave him" crowd's opinion is akin to trying to run off & replace Cross or Spoon. RB is a much more fluid & manageable position and K9 doesn't have SA37 stats or ML24's down to down value.
Those two are the greatest RB's we ever drafted & traded for BTW, so they are the standard.
If there ever was a time for a GM to refuse to let an agent hold us hostage over a player this is it IMHO.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

And that's YOUR opinion. We all have a right to what we think they should do. Acting like just any RB can do what he does is fricken hilarious. The constant K9 bashing and/or downplaying his talent is a trip. FFS, this place sometimes. Now I want them to sign him even more.

I'll go ahead and retire from this thread as I don't wanna' get booted.
Go Hawks
Go K9

 

[Bobblehead]

The more I think about this the more I think he's gone. The history of signing running backs to contracts off their rookie deal just isn't very good. Combined with the fact he isn't great in pass pro and I just think they go another route unless he's super cheap. I just doubt that happens because he's a very talented runner and someone will pay him for that. If he's back for a good price I'll be pumped I just don't see it.

what route would that be?

 

[Chukarhawk]

what route would that be?

DRAFT. RB's are a dime a dozen.

 

[Grahamhawker]

KWIII's potential competition on the FA market:
Najee Harris, Austin Ekeler, Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, Nick Chubb, Breece Hall, JK Dobbins, Dare Ogunbawale, Kenneth Gainwell, Travis Homer, Jerome Ford, Raheem Mostert, Kareem Hunt, Kene Nwangwu, Alexander Mattison, Jeremy McNichols, AJ Dillon, Miles Sanders, Rachaad White, Brian Robinson, Ameer Abdullah, Kahlil Herbert, Trayveon Williams, Michael Carter, Deejay Dallas, Salvon Ahmed, Patrick Taylor, Zamir White, Ronnie Rivers, Dameon Pierce, Julius Chestnut, Hassan Haskins, Tyler Allgeier, Ty Chandler, Isiah Pacheco

I don't see a lot of names there I'd be confident starting as an RB1 on a run-first team, especially when you weed out the top names who will likely pull K9 ballpark $$.

The other alternative is to spend a 1st or 2nd on a "sure thing" RB, in a year where you only have four picks and you're otherwise in prime BPA territory.

I dunno. I think I'd probably really try to sign Walker to a deal I could stomach.

 

[Ozzy]

what route would that be?

Probably the draft if I had to guess?

I want Walker back, I'm just trying to predict what I think the Seahawks will do.

 

[Bobblehead]

DRAFT. RB's are a dime a dozen.

You mean marginal rb"s are a dime a dozen.. Id say K9 is above that.

 

[Ozzy]

I don't understand why we can so easily dismiss the value of having K9. He's been so instrumental in Sam's and the Seahawks success this year. I don't see anyone in this year's class of rbs that will do what K9 will give us. 10-12 million, is that too much? They give receuvers 2 or 3 times as much for less production. K9 is what Sam and this offense is built upon. Without him, all we will see is massive amounts of blindside blitzes.

I think you may be misunderstanding people. I think most in here would love to have K9 back, with other needs though I just don't see them signing him for 14 million a year but I could very well be wrong. Even the 10 million for second contract running backs, especially ones who have a history with injuries already don't pan out as often as they should. It's an interesting situation......I would be fine if they did decide to pay him and I completely understand if John goes another direction too.

 

[Bobblehead]

I think you may be misunderstanding people. I think most in here would love to have K9 back, with other needs though I just don't see them signing him for 14 million a year but I could very well be wrong. Even the 10 million for second contract running backs, especially ones who have a history with injuries already don't pan out as often as they should. It's an interesting situation......I would be fine if they did decide to pay him and I completely understand if John goes another direction too.

14 million? where did that come from? I would say he falls around these guys.
Maybe we see what James cook gets as well as Breece Hull who has about the same contract.

Kenneth Walker

Seahawks

26

$8,441,580

$2,110,395

$6,144,040

$6,144,040

2026 UFA

Player	Team	Age	Total Value	Avg./Year	Total Guaranteed	Fully Guaranteed	Free

James Cook	Bills	27	$46,000,000	$11,500,000	$30,000,000	$15,280,000	2030 Void
Kyren Williams	Rams	26	$33,000,000	$11,000,000	$23,000,000	$15,145,000	2029 UFA
Aaron Jones	Vikings	32	$20,000,000	$10,000,000	$13,500,000	$11,500,000	2027 UFA
Joe Mixon	Texans	30	$19,750,000	$9,875,000	$13,000,000	$13,000,000	2027 UFA

 

[sutz]

14 million? where did that come from? I would say he falls around these guys.
Maybe we see what James cook gets as well as Breece Hull who has about the same contract.

Kenneth Walker

Seahawks

26

$8,441,580

$2,110,395

$6,144,040

$6,144,040

2026 UFA

Player	Team	Age	Total Value	Avg./Year	Total Guaranteed	Fully Guaranteed	Free

James Cook	Bills	27	$46,000,000	$11,500,000	$30,000,000	$15,280,000	2030 Void
Kyren Williams	Rams	26	$33,000,000	$11,000,000	$23,000,000	$15,145,000	2029 UFA
Aaron Jones	Vikings	32	$20,000,000	$10,000,000	$13,500,000	$11,500,000	2027 UFA
Joe Mixon	Texans	30	$19,750,000	$9,875,000	$13,000,000	$13,000,000	2027 UFA

$14 mill is the estimated Franchise tag number.

 

[Seahawker]

And that's YOUR opinion. We all have a right to what we think they should do. Acting like just any RB can do what he does is fricken hilarious. The constant K9 bashing and/or downplaying his talent is a trip. FFS, this place sometimes. Now I want them to sign him even more.

I'll go ahead and retire from this thread as I don't wanna' get booted.
Go Hawks
Go K9

Wow, chill Soul.
You're the one who comes off like another opinion doesn't matter.
Mr. "Make Arguing Great Again "

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Probably. Go Hawks

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Other big factor is health. This was walkers first healthy season in years and I think splitting reps with charbonnet helped with that. Do the front office trust him to stay healthy next year? If not they may go for a cheaper free agent and hope McIntosh produces

 

[RehireMora]

I am not sure if this was mentioned or not. Yesterday, ESPN said the Seahawks will not use a tag on Walker.

The report was that it is a hard no, but the one I have here is a "Unlikely".

Sources: Seahawks unlikely to use tags on Kenneth Walker III

The Seahawks are unlikely to use either a franchise or transition tag on running back and Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, league sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com