We’ve got about a month until the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are back from their summer break and report for training camp. This part of the offseason is usually quiet, although you might see teams around the NFL sign some veterans right before camp begins.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz made a “final offseason move” for every team, and lest you think he was going to suggest the Seahawks add someone to the roster (say, an offensive lineman or pass rusher), this move is all about keeping a star player
for a little while longer.
Extend defensive lineman Leonard Williams
The Seahawks need to be careful here, because Williams will be 32 this season and there might be a decline coming soon. However, he’s still playing at a high level, with seven sacks last season. He was named second-team All-Pro in 2025. According to ESPN Research, he has drawn a double-team on 66.6% of pass-rush snaps, fourth among all interior defensive linemen. Williams’ contract voids in 2027, making him Seattle’s biggest free agent for next offseason. Why not get him in for another couple of seasons right now?
Williams might be on the wrong side of 30, but it seems like interior defensive line is one of those positions where players can age more gracefully than others. He’s been a pivotal piece in Seattle’s defense since he was acquired via midseason trade in 2023. Williams has missed just one game in his Seahawks career and has been a two-way standout against the run and as a pass rusher.
This year is the final of Williams’ three-year, $64.5 million contract, with almost $30 million coming his way between base salary and bonuses. He is the third-highest paid IDL for 2026 behind Chris Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike.
It’s an interesting predicament for Seattle, who have a looming Byron Murphy II extension next offseason, while Jarran Reed is in the middle of the second of his (much cheaper) three-year contract. Williams seems too valuable at a premium position to let walk in free agency, and I suspect the Seahawks will get a deal done that won’t break the bank.
