The Seahawks Just Did Something Nobody Else Could: Here's Why Seattle Is Still Running This League
A few weeks out from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy after beating New England in Super Bowl LX, the Seahawks faced a problem that would break most franchises. How do you keep a championship team together when salaries are skyrocketing and half the league is throwing money at your guys? John Schneider figured it out. That's why Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr just ranked Seattle at No. 1 in his latest power rankings, and honestly, it makes sense.
The Mission: Keep the Band Together
Here's the thing about winning a Super Bowl: everyone wants your players. The offseason went nuts, with hundreds of guys moving to new teams chasing rings. But the Seahawks weren't selling. Schneider had one job: maintain the core of a roster that "romped through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl." Mission accomplished.
According to Orr, Schneider faced the same challenge during the Legion of Boom era. "Keeping together an increasingly expensive roster while maintaining the core of a team that romped through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl" is brutal math. But Schneider kept it simple: you don't need flashy free agency signings when your offense already works. Landing Rashid Shaheed last season and keeping those offensive pieces intact matters more than chasing big names. He backed that up by inking Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a market-setting deal. That's how you do it.
What Seattle Lost, and Why It Doesn't Kill Them
Look, the Seahawks lost some real pieces. Coby Bryant, Boye Mafe, and Riq Woolen are gone. Those subtractions hurt. But here's the reality: a championship roster isn't broken, so you don't tear it apart to rebuild it. Schneider promised fans he'd bring back as many championship guys as possible, and he delivered.
Shaheed's deal tells you everything. At $51 million over three years, it's the richest new contract the team handed out this offseason. That's where the money went. And while other teams are busy wheeling and dealing, the Chiefs grabbed one of Seattle's guys, the 49ers added Mike Evans, Denver traded for Jaylen Waddle, and the Rams got cornerback Trent McDuffie. Meanwhile, Seattle's still sitting pretty at the top.
The Draft Dance Ahead
The Seahawks aren't done yet. They've only got four draft picks on the board right now, which isn't ideal. But here's where Schneider gets creative: Seattle is positioned at the end of the first round with picks in each of the first three rounds. That's a perfect spot to wheel and deal if the right opportunity shows up during the draft.
The second half of the offseason is crucial. A strong draft class could be the difference between defending the title and watching other teams make noise. But right now, with the core intact and the top ranking locked down, Seattle's got momentum heading into what could be another championship run.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.