2026 'space needle' is always in motion

Nobody knows how much cap space the Seahawks will have next offseason

There should be no debate about whether or not the Seattle Seahawks have a ton of cap space in 2026 or not: They do, it’s just up to the front office with input from the coaching staff regarding how to use it.

While it is true that the Seahawks only have 28 players officially under contract for next season, and this is before signing their 2025 rookie class, compared to an NFL-high 53 players signed by the Eagles for 2026, Seattle has plenty enough space to keep their own players and add new ones.

And if the Seahawks feel like they’re getting too close to the ceiling, they can always ADD MORE ROOM.

Unofficial numbers by OvertheCap show the Seahawks are sixth in 2026 cap space:

‘Effective cap space’ which accounts for incidentals not shown from raw contract numbers bumps Seattle down to eighth:

That’s not a significant difference. It’s also the EIGHTH-MOST.

By comparison, two of the best teams in the NFC, and one of the most mediocre, are all projected to be more than $45 million OVER the 2026 cap:

All of the Lions’ options to get under the cap, like restructuring the quarterback’s contract, extending 2022’s first round pick to lower his cap hit on the 5th-year option, and making cap casualties, are all the same options available to Seattle. But the Seahawks are already $115 million AHEAD of Detroit when comparing their 2026 caps.

Where will the Seahawks 2026 cap situation settle around going into next March free agency?

Keep reading to explore the answers to that question with estimates for the players due to be free agents, cap casualties, and extension candidates: