Seahawks Facing 'Super Bowl Tax' After Dominant Season

NFL Insider Adam Schefter warns Seattle must balance retaining key players with salary cap constraints

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Seattle Seahawks are entering a critical offseason after their Super Bowl-winning campaign under head coach Mike Macdonald. NFL insider Adam Schefter cautioned the team faces difficult financial decisions to retain their championship core, including impending contract extensions for star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Schefter described this as the 'Super Bowl tax' that every title-winning team must navigate, as the cost of keeping their top players can make it harder to assemble a roster capable of competing for championships annually.

Why it matters

The Seahawks' success under Macdonald has put them in a challenging position, as they must now pay market-setting contracts to their best players. This could limit their ability to keep the entire roster intact, testing the team's depth and ability to sustain their championship-level performance. How Seattle's front office, led by GM John Schneider, manages this 'Super Bowl tax' will be crucial to the team's long-term outlook.

The details

The Seahawks are facing extension decisions for two of their standout young players - wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Both are poised to command top-of-market deals after breakout seasons that were integral to Seattle's Super Bowl run. Additionally, the team must replace offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who departed, and decide on the future of running back Kenneth Walker III, who is set to hit free agency. Schefter warned that locking up Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon to lucrative long-term contracts could make it 'harder to assemble the type of roster that can compete for championships on an annual basis'.

  • The Seahawks are entering the 2026 offseason after winning the Super Bowl under head coach Mike Macdonald.
  • Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon are both eligible for contract extensions for the first time in their careers.

The players

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

A standout wide receiver for the Seahawks who was named the Offensive Player of the Year after a dominant 2025 season.

Devon Witherspoon

An anchor of the Seahawks' top-ranked defense in 2025, Witherspoon is poised to command a lucrative contract extension.

Kenneth Walker III

The Seahawks' Super Bowl MVP running back is set to hit free agency, adding to the team's roster decisions.

John Schneider

The Seahawks' general manager, known for his shrewd roster-building, will be tasked with navigating the team's salary cap challenges.

Mike Macdonald

The Seahawks' head coach, who led the team to a Super Bowl championship in his first season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If we make Jaxon Smith-Njigba the latest $40 million a year wide receiver, and if we make Devon Witherspoon one of the top paid cornerbacks in the game, all of a sudden it gets harder to assemble the type of roster that can compete for championships on an annual basis.”

— Adam Schefter, NFL Insider (Adam Schefter Podcast)

What’s next

The Seahawks must decide on contract extensions for Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon, as well as the future of running back Kenneth Walker III, while also replacing offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. These decisions will shape the team's ability to maintain their championship-caliber roster.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' success under Mike Macdonald has put them in a challenging financial position, as they must now pay market-setting contracts to retain their top players. This 'Super Bowl tax' is a familiar pattern across the league, testing the front office's ability to balance short-term achievements with long-term roster sustainability.