Seven Seahawks including Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp have contract options due Friday
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 08: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with teammate Cooper Kupp #10 of the Seattle Seahawks after defeating the New England Patriots 29-13 to win Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on February 08, 2026 (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
With the Super Bowl now in the rearview mirror, the Seattle Seahawks will turn their focus toward the offseason ahead and the key decisions needed to chase another championship next season.
While the new league year doesn't begin until next month, Friday actually serves as an early decision point for the Seahawks regarding players under contract for next season. A handful of key contributors have bonuses in their contracts that are set to kick in five days after the Super Bowl, which could force decisions to be made by general manager John Schneider and his front office staff.
Additionally, the Seahawks have nine players set to become unrestricted free agents, and seven more who will be restricted. Potential contract extensions for wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon loom on the horizon as well.
First up are the bonuses due on Friday. The Seahawks have long held to a contract structure that doesn't fully guarantee money beyond the first year of a contract, with ongoing vesting dates for further guarantees and separate contract bonuses due at later dates. (All contract details via OverTheCap.com.)
The seven players with vesting dates on contract guarantees are:
- Quarterback Sam Darnold
- Wide receiver Cooper Kupp
- Right tackle Abe Lucas
- Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence
- Linebacker Ernest Jones IV
- Nose tackle Jarran Reed
- Punter Michael Dickson
Sam Darnold
Darnold has a $15 million roster bonus due, and $2.5 million of his $12.3 million base salary will become fully guaranteed on Friday.
Darnold received a three-year, $100.5 million contract from Seattle last March after trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders. Darnold earned $37.5 million in salary this season from the Seahawks, with $32 million coming via a signing bonus, and $5.5 million in base salary. Contract incentives netted Darnold an additional $4 million through benchmarks such as reaching the playoffs and advancing throughout the postseason.
Darnold is set to earn $12.3 million in base salary next season, with the $15 million roster bonus and earned incentives from this season pushing his salary cap number to $37.9 million.
Cooper Kupp
Kupp is set to have $9 million of his $12.99 million base salary fully guaranteed on Friday.
Kupp could be the most interesting decision from the Seahawks on the list. If they let that $9 million become guaranteed, it's a sign he's fully in their plans for the 2026 season. But Kupp is 33 years old and had just 47 receptions for 593 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games played in the regular season.
Kupp's value goes beyond his receiving as he's a terrific blocker and is an extremely smart player that helped Seattle in many ways this season. Smith-Njigba has credited Kupp with helping him to have the breakout season he had this year en route to winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors.
But that value might not be worth the $17.5 million cap hit for next season, with fellow receiver and kick returner Rashid Shaheed a free agent as well.
It would seem unlikely for Seattle to pull the plug on Kupp's return home to the northwest, but it's the most uncertain decision they have to make.
Abe Lucas
Lucas signed a three-year contract extension with Seattle in September, keeping him under contract through 2028. His $6.6 million base salary becomes guaranteed on Friday, which is merely a formality.
DeMarcus Lawrence
Lawrence signed with Seattle on a three-year, $42 million deal with Seattle in free agency last March. Lawrence has $5 million on his $8.15 million base salary set to become fully guaranteed on Friday.
Like Lucas, this feels like a formality after a stellar season with the Seahawks.
Ernest Jones IV
Jones has $5 million of his $7.9 million base salary due on Friday. Jones has become a vocal leader for Seattle through his steadfast defense of Darnold on multiple occasions throughout the year. He's brought Mike Macdonald's defense together since joining via trade from Tennessee last season.
Jones joins Lucas and Lawrence as mere formalities.
Jarran Reed
Reed signed a three-year, $22 million deal with Seattle last year. Reed has $2 million of his $5.5 million contract set to become fully guaranteed on Friday.
You could make an argument that Reed's $7.4 million cap hit is too high for a rotational defensive lineman, but it would be difficult to think the Seahawks will be the ones to make that claim.
Michael Dickson
The best punter in the NFL is coming off a stellar performance in Super Bowl LX. Dickson has his $2.7 million salary set to become fully guaranteed.
Ken Walker III to head free agent class
Coming off a Super Bowl MVP, running back Ken Walker III will headline Seattle's unrestricted free agent class.
Walker is the highest-profile offensive free agent for Seattle along with receiver Rashid Shaheed. Also, cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe, and safety Coby Bryant head the defensive class.
Meanwhile, linebacker Drake Thomas, receiver Jake Bobo, and long snapper Chris Stoll head the group of restricted free agents.
Unrestricted Free Agents
- Running back Ken Walker III
- Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed
- Cornerback Riq Woolen
- Safety Coby Bryant
- Cornerback Josh Jobe
- Linebacker Boye Mafe
- Tackle Josh Jones
- Wide receiver Dareke Young
- Linebacker Chazz Surratt
Restricted Free Agents
- Linebacker Drake Thomas
- Wide receiver Jake Bobo
- Long snapper Chris Stoll
- Tight end/fullback Brady Russell
- Nose tackle Brandon Pili
- Wide receiver Cody White
- Safety A.J. Finley
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
- Safety Ty Okada
- Running back George Holani
Seahawks sign 15 to futures deals
The Seahawks signed 15 players from their practice squad to future contracts for the 2026 season. The contracts will kick in when rosters expand to their offseason maximum of 90 players with the start of the new league year in March.
Running backs Cam Akers and Velus Jones Jr., receivers Ricky White III and Montorie Foster, center Federico Maranges, tackle Logan Brown, nose tackles J.R. Singleton and Bubba Thomas, linebackers Jamie Sheriff, Chris Paul Jr. and Ja'Markis Weston, cornerback Tyler Hall, and safety Maxen Hook were signed to contracts on Friday.
Additionally, running back Jacardia Wright and wide receiver Tyrone Broden were also signed to future deals. Both players finished the season on the practice squad injured reserve list.
Only four players that finished the year on the practice squad did not receive future deals with three of them being veterans. Cornerback Shaquill Griffin, safety Quandre Diggs, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles, and wide receiver Courtney Jackson all did not sign future deals.
For veterans such as Griffin, Diggs and Jean-Charles, that's not a surprise as they'll seek playing opportunities elsewhere.
The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
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