Carson Neuhausen | News Editor
February 18, 2026
To win a Super Bowl is the ultimate goal in the NFL; however, it creates one of the toughest challenges a franchise can face: maintaining success. The Patriots kept their dynasty alive by bringing in specific players who suited Tom Brady’s style, while Bill Bellichek’s defensive genius kept them competitive. This strategy worked because it was cheap; they didn’t need the best defensive players, the best receivers, or the best running back; they just needed personnel who worked well with their superstar. With that said, the Seahawks face a far more difficult road to continued success. While Sam Darnold has proven his worth over the last two years, he is not a quarterback that you can build a team around. In addition, the Seahawks defense is full of young stars who will want to be paid big money when it’s time for contract renegotiations. Naturally, Seattle will have to let some of these players go, which will, in turn, weaken its strongest asset: its defense.
That said, the most important factor in maintaining a championship-caliber team is the “Super Bowl tax.” Players who perform on the sport’s biggest stage see their market value skyrocket. For Seattle, this phenomenon will apply to Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. Walker is crucial to this Seattle team, whose passing game heavily depends on Sam Darnold’s performance, which has been relatively inconsistent throughout the year. When Darnold is having a rough game, head coach Mike Macdonald can rely on the strong backfield to stay competitive and score touchdowns. Senior at SCHS and avid football fan Luke Karidis said that he is “not sure whether the Seahawks can stay good. They’ll have to focus on Darnold this offseason and try to limit his turnovers.” With all of the expensive defensive contracts and the inevitable massive contract for receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN), analysts are wondering if Seattle will be able to afford Walker’s contract, which is up for renewal this year.
The good news for Seattle fans is that the organization enters this offseason with manageable cap space and a young roster. This means the front office will have the flexibility to keep their foundational players if they are smart with its time and money. SCHS senior Jack Blaney told me that he “remembers when the Seahawks were good a long time ago. They kept the Legion of Boom together for awhile so I don’t see why they can’t do it again.” The Seahawks’ management has traditionally made smart roster decisions, often crafting creative contracts that free up cap space to stay competitive on the field and in the books.
Leave a Reply