The offseason chessboard is in motion, and the Seattle Seahawks have made their first significant roster-building move of the 2026 calendar year. The team announced on Wednesday the signing of 15 players to future contracts, a procedural yet crucial step in fortifying the roster for the upcoming season. This group, comprised entirely of athletes who concluded the 2025 campaign on the team's practice squad or practice squad injured list, represents the first layer of foundational depth for General Manager John Schneider and Head Coach Mike Macdonald.
In the NFL ecosystem, future contracts are a standard but vital tool. They allow teams to retain the rights to players who are not under contract for the next season, preventing them from hitting the open market when the new league year begins. For the players, it's a vote of confidence and a guaranteed spot when offseason programs kick off. For the Seahawks, it's an efficient way to maintain continuity, develop talent already familiar with the system, and create competition at the bottom of the roster without the initial frenzy of free agency.
This year's list of 15 signings is headlined by a couple of names that will ring familiar to NFL fans, signaling Seattle's intent to build experienced depth. The most notable inclusion is running back Cam Akers. The former second-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams, who joined Seattle's practice squad late in the 2025 season, brings a proven pedigree. While his career has been a rollercoaster marked by a spectacular Achilles recovery and subsequent fluctuations, his talent is undeniable. Securing Akers on a future deal gives the Seahawks a low-risk, potentially high-reward option behind Kenneth Walker III. He provides a different stylistic element--a one-cut, powerful runner who could thrive in Mike Macdonald's system if he recaptures his pre-injury form. This move suggests the running back room will be a fierce battleground come training camp.
Joining him is the versatile Velus Jones Jr., the wide receiver and return specialist. Jones, whose speed and athleticism have never been in question, has struggled to find a consistent role in the NFL since being drafted by the Chicago Bears. His signing indicates the Seahawks see untapped potential, likely as a gadget player on offense and a contender for the kick and punt return jobs--an area Seattle has sought stability in for years. Keeping Jones in the building allows the coaching staff a full offseason to design plays that maximize his elite straight-line speed and open-field ability.
Beyond the headline acts, these future signings are the lifeblood of roster construction. They include a mix of young players the team has been developing and veterans providing camp competition. While the full list from the team announcement encompasses various positions, we can infer the strategic thinking behind them.
Look for several of these signings to address the trenches. Retaining young offensive linemen who have spent a year in the system is paramount. These players, often undrafted free agents or late-round picks, have had a season to learn the playbook, develop their bodies in an NFL strength program, and understand the technique demands of their position coaches. They will enter the offseason as the first line of depth, competing with any new draft picks or free agents brought in. Similarly, defensive linemen and edge rushers on future deals get a crucial head start in a defensive scheme that demands specific skills from its front.
The secondary is another key area. The Seahawks have a history of developing defensive backs, and any cornerbacks or safeties on this list represent clay for the coaching staff to mold. In Macdonald's complex defensive scheme, which relies heavily on disguise and versatile defensive back roles, having players who already understand the basic terminology and expectations is a significant advantage.
What does this move tell us about the Seahawks' approach to the 2026 offseason? Primarily, it signals a desire for stability and internal development. Instead of letting all 15 of these players become free agents, the organization is betting on its own evaluation and development processes. It's a cost-effective strategy that fills out the 90-man offseason roster with known quantities. These players are not guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster in September, but they are guaranteed the first opportunity to fight for one.
For fans, it's a reminder that team-building is a year-round, multi-layered process. The splashy free-agent signings and the drama of the draft capture the headlines, but the work done on the margins--signing future contracts, cultivating the practice squad, and nurturing late-round picks--often determines the true depth and resilience of a team. Injuries are inevitable in the NFL, and the difference between a lost season and a salvaged one can be a practice squad call-up who is ready to contribute.
As we look ahead to the Scouting Combine, free agency, and the draft, the Seahawks have now solidified their baseline. The 15 players signed today form the foundation of the offseason roster. Some, like Cam Akers, will compete for meaningful rotational roles. Others will battle to prove they belong in the league. All of them have been given the ultimate offseason gift: another chance. For the Seahawks, it's a smart, calculated first step in constructing a team capable of returning to the top of the NFC West. The real competition for the 2026 Seattle Seahawks begins not in late July, but right now, with these 15 signatures on future contracts.