Did Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III unfollow the Seattle Seahawks over the franchise tag decision?

Kenneth Walker III situation has quickly become one of the most intriguing storylines of the NFL offseason. The Kenneth Walker III buzz began with something surprisingly small.

Fans noticed that the Kenneth Walker III Instagram account no longer followed the Seattle Seahawks. It might seem trivial, but in today’s NFL, even the quietest digital moves can spark serious speculation. The timing raised eyebrows because it came right after Seattle decided not to place the franchise tag on their Super Bowl hero.By declining the tag, the Seattle Seahawks left the door open for their star running back to test the market when the new league year begins.

For a player who just carried the offense through the biggest game of the season, the decision felt surprising. It also shifted the spotlight onto Walker’s future almost overnight. Now the league is watching closely to see whether Seattle and their MVP can reach a long-term deal or if another team will step in with a compelling offer.

Kenneth Walker III free agency speculation grows as Seahawks skip franchise tag

The decision not to tag Kenneth Walker III raised a simple question across the league. Why allow a Super Bowl MVP to approach free agency without securing him first?Seattle had the option to place the franchise tag on Walker before the league deadline.

That move would have guaranteed him a one-year deal worth more than $14 million. Instead, the team passed. The choice immediately opened the possibility that Walker could explore offers from other franchises if a new contract with Seattle does not materialize soon.Walker’s value has never been higher. In Super Bowl LX, he powered the Seahawks to victory against the New England Patriots with a performance that will live in franchise memory.

He rushed for 135 yards and added 26 yards as a receiver, earning Super Bowl MVP honors. It marked the first time in nearly thirty years that a running back claimed the award.His dominance was not limited to that single night. During the 2025 regular season, Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns while adding 31 receptions for 282 yards. When the playoffs arrived, his production climbed even higher. He piled up 313 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns, consistently delivering in the biggest moments.That résumé explains why several teams are already monitoring his situation. The Washington Commanders have emerged as an early possibility. After finishing 5-12 last season, Washington is expected to spend aggressively to upgrade the roster.Dan Graziano of ESPN believes Walker could land a major deal in the coming weeks.“The Super Bowl MVP hits free agency with the benefit of a market full of teams looking for explosive running backs,” Graziano wrote.

“With Breece Hall having set the market with a $14.3 million franchise tag from the Jets, Walker can play multiple teams off each other and land at just above that number with the first year (and a chunk of the second year) fully guaranteed.”Washington has the financial flexibility to make that kind of move. If the bidding reaches the level some analysts expect, Seattle could face a difficult choice about how far it is willing to go to keep its championship star.Meanwhile, the Seahawks still have Zach Charbonnet under contract heading into the 2026 season. The team could lean on him if Walker departs, though replacing a Super Bowl MVP is rarely simple.For now, one small social media change has turned into one of the offseason’s most closely watched contract stories.