Breakdown: The Seahawks’ next contract extension candidates

The future remains as bright as ever for the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks – both for 2026 and beyond.

The Seahawks’ salary cap outlook after Leonard Williams deal

The Seahawks return 20 of 22 starters from last year’s Lombardi Trophy-winning team, along with 32 of their top 37 players in offensive or defensive snaps across both the regular season postseason. Both are among the highest marks for any defending Super Bowl champion over the past 15 years.

And in addition to their high rate of roster retention for 2026, the Seahawks made it a clear priority this offseason to ensure their foundational players remain in the fold for the long run. General manager John Schneider & Co. inked a series of big-money contract extensions with cornerstone players, with the aim of keeping Seattle’s championship window open for years to come.

Here’s a recap of the Seahawks’ major deals this offseason, where their salary cap space now stands and which players could be in line for significant extensions next offseason.

A recap

To begin with, here’s a look back at the biggest deals the Seahawks made this offseason:

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168 million extension in March that made him the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver. He’s now under contract with Seattle through 2031.

• Devon Witherspoon inked a four-year, $132 million extension earlier this month that made him the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback. He’s also now under contract through 2031.

• Leonard Williams signed a three-year, $90 million extension last week that makes him tied as the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid defensive tackle. He’s now under contract through 2029.

• And while technically it didn’t happen during the offseason, Charles Cross inked a four-year, $104.4 million extension during Seattle’s first-round playoff bye week in January. He’s now the NFL’s third-highest-paid left tackle and is under contract through 2030.

• The Seahawks also re-signed wide receiver/return specialist Rashid Shaheed to a three-year, $51 million deal in March and extended edge rusher Derick Hall to a three-year, $42 million deal in June. Shaheed is now under contract through 2028 and Hall through 2029.

Seattle’s 2026 cap space

Even after all the big-money deals, the Seahawks still have approximately $27.7 million in salary cap space for 2026, which ranks 11th-most in the NFL, according to Over The Cap.

A big reason for that? Seattle has an NFL-low $2.3 million in dead money – which refers to cap space allotted to players no longer on the roster. For reference, the median NFL team has approximately $38.6 million in dead money.

In other words, Schneider & Co. have shown an incredible knack for determining which players to invest in – and just as importantly, which ones not to. By not tying themselves to contracts that age poorly, the Seahawks have maintained the financial and salary-cap flexibility to spend big on retaining their franchise cornerstones.

A bird’s-eye view

Here’s a look at the Seahawks’ projected starters and other top rotational or special teams players for 2026. Of the 36 players listed below, 27 are under contract through at least 2027 and another three are under team control through 2027 as restricted or exclusive rights free agents.

• Under contract through 2031: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CB Devon Witherspoon

• Under contract through 2030: LT Charles Cross

• Under contract through 2029: DL Leonard Williams, EDGE Derick Hall, RB Jadarian Price, P Michael Dickson

• Under contract through 2028: S Nick Emmanwori, LG Grey Zabel, RT Abraham Lucas, WR Rashid Shaheed, CB Josh Jobe, WR Tory Horton, TE Elijah Arroyo, DL Rylie Mills

• Under contract through 2027: QB Sam Darnold, DT Byron Murphy II, TE AJ Barner, LB Ernest Jones IV, S Julian Love, WR Cooper Kupp, DT Jarran Reed, LB Drake Thomas, LB Tyrice Knight, K Jason Myers, FB Brady Russell, EDGE DeMarcus Lawrence (set to retire after 2026)

• Exclusive rights free agent after 2026: C Jalen Sundell

• Restricted free agent after 2026: S Ty Okada, RB George Holani

• Contract expires after 2026: EDGE Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., RB Zach Charbonnet, RG Anthony Bradford, TE Eric Saubert, C Olu Oluwatimi

Who’s next?

Looking ahead to next offseason, Darnold and Murphy are both in line for potential massive extensions.

Darnold, who will be entering the final season of his current three-year, $100.5 million contract, could be poised to make upward of $50 million per year. Right now, there are 12 QBs above the $50 million-per-year range.

Murphy, who will be entering the final season of his rookie deal, could command upward of $30 million per year to put him in line with the NFL’s top defensive tackles. With Murphy being a first-round draft pick, the Seahawks could pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract to help spread out the salary cap hits – as they did with both Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon this offseason.

Barner, Love and Jones are among the other Seahawks who could be in line for extensions next offseason.

The good news? Seattle is currently in a healthy cap situation for 2027, sitting near the middle of the league with $31.6 million in cap space.

And keep in mind, with veteran edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence set to retire after this season, $10.7 million of his 2027 cap charge is set to come off the books.

The Seahawks also could save $14 million in 2027 cap space if they move on from Kupp after this season and $8 million if they move on from Reed after this season. However, while both players are 33, they each are core locker-room pieces whose value extends far beyond their on-field production.

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