The slowest a part of the offseason has arrived, with the Seattle Seahawks satisfied that the 2026 season is just not about defending their Tremendous Bowl LX title, claimed in a 29-13 walloping of the New England Patriots and is as an alternative a brand new season of its personal. It’s an idea ripe for debate about mathematical independence, however that’s a special topic for a special day.
As we speak the subject of debate at hand is in regards to the depth of the staff on the security place, and the way Ty Okada moved from a apply squad participant who primarily served as particular groups depth to taking up an even bigger function as a flexible depth piece within the secondary.
Professional Bowler Julian Love is, in fact, the unquestioned veteran chief of the group, whereas Nick Emmanwori is the younger, versatile chess piece whose freakish athleticism permits Mike Macdonald to go full mad scientist drawing up ideas for each layer of the protection. How Macdonald may put 2026 second-round decide Bud Clark and veteran free agent Rodney Thomas to make use of can be keys to observe throughout coaching camp and unquestionably be closely debated by followers.
Clark lately signed his CBA dictated rookie contract that runs by means of 2029, whereas Thomas is a veteran on a one-year deal. Okada can also be a veteran on a one-year deal, having spent the whole thing of the 2025 season on the energetic roster after bouncing between the apply squad and energetic roster in each 2023 and 2024.
The truth that Okada was on and off the roster in every of his first two seasons with Seattle is what creates a really staff pleasant state of affairs. Particularly, in every of these two years he appeared in 5 video games, and particularly was in full pay standing for precisely 5 video games. For what makes 5 video games so necessary, it’s the truth that below the collective bargaining settlement there are two strategies of measurement for a participant to earn veteran standing, credited seasons and accrued seasons. Credited seasons are used for a lot of issues, with one being what the required minimal wage is for a participant and the way they’re earned is outlined in Article 26, Part 2:
Part 2. Credited Season: For functions of calculating Credited Seasons below this Article solely, a participant shall earn one Credited Season for every season throughout which he was on, or ought to have been on, full pay standing for a complete of three or extra common season video games, however which, no matter the participant’s pay standing, shall not embrace video games for which this participant was on: (i) the Exempt Commissioner Permission Listing; (ii) the Reserve PUP Listing because of a nonfootball harm; (iii) a Membership’s Observe or Developmental Squad; or (iv) a Membership’s Injured Reserve Listing.
As for accrued seasons, they’re used to find out a participant’s free agent standing upon the expiration of their contract, and the definition is specified by Article 8, Part 1(a):
Part 1. Accrued Seasons Calculation: (a) For the needs of calculating Accrued Seasons below this Settlement, a participant shall obtain one Accrued Season for every season throughout which he was on, or shouldhave been on, full pay standing for a complete of six or extra common season video games (which shall embrace any video games encompassed in any harm settlement, harm grievance settlement or harm grievance award), however which, no matter the participant’s pay standing, shall not embrace video games for which the participant was on: (i) the Exempt Commissioner Permission Listing, (ii) the Reserve PUP Listing because of a nonfootball harm, or (iii) a Membership’s Observe Squad.
The distinction between the 2 is small, however principally it comes all the way down to the truth that gamers earn a credited season for being on the roster for 3 or extra seasons, whereas they get an accrued season for being on the roster for six or extra video games.
Thus, a participant in Okada’s sneakers who was in full pay standing for 5 video games in every of 2023 and 2024 earlier than spending the complete 2025 season on the 53 man roster has three credited seasons and one accrued season to his title. Astute readers have already realized precisely what this implies, however for many who don’t, the three credited seasons requires the minimal wage Okada could also be paid below the CBA in 2026 to be $1.145M.
Nonetheless, whereas the CBA offers Okada a minimal wage of $1.145M, the truth that he has earned only a single accrued season so far in his profession implies that even when he spends the whole thing of the 2026 season on the energetic roster, the Seahawks have two extra years of staff management remaining after the season. What which means is that, as famous within the screengrab from OverTheCap.com beneath, 2025 was successfully Okada’s rookie season in terms of figuring out his free agent standing, and he’s slated to be an unique rights free agent once more subsequent offseason.
That will give the Seahawks the power to retain his providers for the 2027 season as soon as once more on yet one more one-year, league minimal contract, earlier than he would lastly attain restricted free company forward of the 2028 season.
Placing all these items collectively, the truth that Okada may doubtlessly present very cost-effective depth for the Seahawks for the subsequent a number of seasons whereas additionally offering the power to fill a big function on particular groups is value maintaining in thoughts. In brief, in terms of roster building and Okada’s contract standing, 2025 was successfully his rookie season, that means although he’s on a one-year deal, it might appear there’s a very excessive likelihood he’ll be round effectively previous 2026.
