Latest K9 rumor

[GemCity]

No doubt. It's too bad Chris Carson had his career cut short. Loved how that guy ran the ball.

Man..me too. BeastMode then Carson? Loved our running game in those days.

 

[Grahamhawker]

I think the only hope is some creative contract structure.

 

[Silver Hawk]

Good running backs may not be a dime a dozen, but they are $11 million APY a dozen.

Who do you want to pay $11MM to for 2026? Why not pay Walker the tag money ($14MM) and consider it an insurance policy for 2026? Especially for a team that wants to lead with the run.

If Charbs wasn’t hurt, or if the Hawks had a couple of guys on the roster that they knew they could depend on, I’d be fine with possibly going down other paths that didn’t include Walker. Unfortunately, I think they are just in a bad situation on this right now. Bad timing if nothing else. Tagging him for the year would not be fiscally crazy.

 

[sutz]

Good running backs may not be a dime a dozen, but they are $11 million APY each.

FIFY

 

[Silver Hawk]

Good point, and I would think that "sharing snaps" and "another ring" would factor into his decision.

I get the sense that some here use the term "hometown discount" to mean not getting the highest contract amount you can possibly get, from whatever team is willing to pay it. So to clarify, did Tom Brady take the "hometown discount", or did he take the "I want more Super Bowl rings" discount to enable his team to keep winning?

To me "hometown discount" is more like a local hero staying with a not-so-great team, at lower pay, because of his loyalty to the area and fans. Lots of professional athletes have done that - baseball comes to mind. I can't actually think of any NFL players who have done that, but that's not what K9 or JSN are having to consider.

Obviously, each of these guys we're discussing has to decide whether it's worth it to leave a solid job for one that is more questionable but pays more. For some of our players it won't be worth changing teams - if money was 100% of the equation for every star, there would be no dynasties, and very few repeat great teams.

Giants would pair him with with Skattebo. Interestingly, what I read said that the Giants are currently over the cap, even with Dart’s cap friendly contract. They’ve got some work to do if they want to fit K9 in.

 

[Seahawker]

The difference between 10M and 12/13M per can mean different things depending on how a contract is structured, guaranteed $, incentives, ect. Obviously how you manage & invest your money will have more bearing on how much you retain later in life compared to receiving more $ early yet mismanaging it.
An extra $9M or __ fill in blank won't necessarily make you happy or solve problems, might even create some. One things for sure, that agent is going to want the biggest contract offered and sympathies won't lie with your current, soon be be past team, teammates.

The NFL is all about competition, on field production & performance determine your pay scale and you have few windows to claim that money. Along with that competition is peer pressure among the players to take the highest offers to keep salaries rising. That's not a good recipe for happiness or contentment in my book.

I started feeling disinfranchised with the NFL when the top players started making a million $ per game and it skyrocketed from there.
I've been happily retired for a few years but it used to take me ten years to make $1M and trust me, I earned every single penny.

I would just say to these FA Seahawks players who are weighing their options and hoping for a big payday to consider what you may be leaving.
The grass is not always greener and greenbacks aren't always the standard compared to a SB season achieved with teammates & a franchise that can't easily be replaced.

Take it from an old man that knows. In the end it's not about a number at the bottom of a ledger. When the day comes for reflection, it will be about those glory days you spent with an unmatched bond you held with men you accomplished great things with.
For that you will be remembered for, not money long spent.

 

[James in PA]

JSN and Spoon extensions are right around the corner, and you better believe those 2 cats are getting that bag. Can't keep everyone, unfortunately.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Unless you're the Clams or 29ers. They don't have a cap. Never have, seemingly.

 

[Silver Hawk]

Unless you're the Clams or 29ers. They don't have a cap. Never have, seemingly.

This seems to be true. I was shocked when they found a way to add CMC.

 

[Runscott]

Giants would pair him with with Skattebo. Interestingly, what I read said that the Giants are currently over the cap, even with Dart’s cap friendly contract. They’ve got some work to do if they want to fit K9 in.

That's interesting. The Giants did not have a horrible run game, but having Harbaugh as their new coach could be appealing. Still, playoffs are unlikely until 2027...despite what Colin Cowherd says

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Sketchy AF. I'll never budge from my stance on that. Some teams seem to have their own rules.

 

[MORGULON]

Giants would pair him with with Skattebo. Interestingly, what I read said that the Giants are currently over the cap, even with Dart’s cap friendly contract. They’ve got some work to do if they want to fit K9 in.

Funny ... To suck that bad and be over the cap

 

[Silver Hawk]

Funny ... To suck that bad and be over the cap

Bryan Burns gets $36.6MM and Dexter Lawrence gets $27MM. Supposedly, they are “over the functional cap limit” by $7.3MM. Should see a bunch of cuts and restructures there very soon.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Gonna' be some really good players available at the June 1st cuts, imo. Cap casualties, etc.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

Who do you want to pay $11MM to for 2026? Why not pay Walker the tag money ($14MM) and consider it an insurance policy for 2026? Especially for a team that wants to lead with the run.

If Charbs wasn’t hurt, or if the Hawks had a couple of guys on the roster that they knew they could depend on, I’d be fine with possibly going down other paths that didn’t include Walker. Unfortunately, I think they are just in a bad situation on this right now. Bad timing if nothing else. Tagging him for the year would not be fiscally crazy.

14 million is still a lot for a RB and im guessing they want JSN taken care of this year and have to sign a pass rusher if Mafe goes and Lawrence retires. There is also a good chance Nwosu is cut and they try to get him back to lower the 30m cap hit but he could also walk.

Apart from Lynch and Carson the GM hasn't really paid RB's and generally grabs them in day 2. Carson made pennies for almost 4 years being a 7th rounder and got rewarded. A pretty damn under rated player.

I'm assuming they either feel confident enough that there is a RB in the draft they like to move on from Walker or they know someone like Tyler Allgeier will come to them. The fact a few in the media are talking about him going to seattle makes me think there is some truth to that.

 

[HawkRiderFan]

I'm at the "well these guys just put together a Super Bowl roster so I am going to trust them stage". Because personally I hate the idea of Walker leaving.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

I'm at the "well these guys just put together a Super Bowl roster so I am going to trust them stage". Because personally I hate the idea of Walker leaving.

Seahawks are basing this on 4 years though not just the last 5 or 6 games. For 3/4 of the season our run game was poor. While a lot of it was due to blocking, there was definitely times Walker was dancing around not hitting the hole. In preseason/camp they were really worried about him staying healthy.

 

[Silver Hawk]

14 million is still a lot for a RB and im guessing they want JSN taken care of this year and have to sign a pass rusher if Mafe goes and Lawrence retires. There is also a good chance Nwosu is cut and they try to get him back to lower the 30m cap hit but he could also walk.

Apart from Lynch and Carson the GM hasn't really paid RB's and generally grabs them in day 2. Carson made pennies for almost 4 years being a 7th rounder and got rewarded. A pretty damn under rated player.

I'm assuming they either feel confident enough that there is a RB in the draft they like to move on from Walker or they know someone like Tyler Allgeier will come to them. The fact a few in the media are talking about him going to seattle makes me think there is some truth to that.

If they don’t sign Walker - it will be the bleakest running back situation that I can remember for the Seahawks. At least at the moment he leaves. If they can’t fix that, it will also severely hinder Sam Darnold’s pass game in 2026.

$14MM is indeed a lot. However, even with the JSN/Spoon needs, they could get that done. They have what, the 6th most cap space in the league right now? Just 1 year. Sort it out after that. Walker would have plenty of motivation on the field, as he would be in another “contract year”.

What starting quality running back will be grabbed on day 2? Draft analyses that I have read are claiming that there are only about 3 running backs, after Love, that are suitable for drafting in the first 100 picks. Not sure if any of those 3 are regarded as day 1 starters. Aside from that, I’d guess that 31 other teams might be looking for a nice pickup too. Same for free agents. No guarantee of getting anything that fits.

This just is not a normal situation. Hawks have a decimated running back room and have minimal draft capital in a poor running back draft. It isn’t business as usual.

I guess there are two camps here. People who would take the risk of really hobbling 2026 possibilities and then, people who would avoid that and keep Walker for at least one year. I’m not a gambler in this situation and isn’t my money.

 

[Bobblehead]

The thing is, if they really wanted him, they could figure out away either through contract restructures or something else. Yes they like k9, but not that much.

 

[Glasgow Seahawk]

If they don’t sign Walker - it will be the bleakest running back situation that I can remember for the Seahawks. At least at the moment he leaves. If they can’t fix that, it will also severely hinder Sam Darnold’s pass game in 2026.

$14MM is indeed a lot. However, even with the JSN/Spoon needs, they could get that done. They have what, the 6th most cap space in the league right now? Just 1 year. Sort it out after that. Walker would have plenty of motivation on the field, as he would be in another “contract year”.

What starting quality running back will be grabbed on day 2? Draft analyses that I have read are claiming that there are only about 3 running backs, after Love, that are suitable for drafting in the first 100 picks. Not sure if any of those 3 are regarded as day 1 starters. Aside from that, I’d guess that 31 other teams might be looking for a nice pickup too. Same for free agents. No guarantee of getting anything that fits.

This just is not a normal situation. Hawks have a decimated running back room and have minimal draft capital in a poor running back draft. It isn’t business as usual.

I guess there are two camps here. People who would take the risk of really hobbling 2026 possibilities and then, people who would avoid that and keep Walker for at least one year. I’m not a gambler in this situation and isn’t my money.

There's no easy answer to this. We could pay walker 14 million and he gets hurt. We have no clue if last year was the exception or norm health wise but Charbonnet took a lot of carries. I'm assuming no matter what they sign a veteran RB whether it be as a stop gap till Charbonnet is back or to replace Walker. If they do take a flyer on a RB in the draft possibly someone like Coleman in the 3rd round. Ive heard Mike Washington Jr mentioned in the 2nd.

I honestly have no clue though. I hope someone like McIntosh recovers and pops in camp.