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The Seattle Seahawks’ first “run it back” roster move of the 2026 offseason is official: Seattle tendered exclusive rights free agents Ty Okada and George Holani, which effectively locks both players onto one-year deals for next season.
It matters today (March 3, 2026) because the tender deadline and the free agency calendar are here fast, and ERFA tenders are often the earliest, simplest way to retain key depth before the league’s free agency window ramps up. It also matters because the Seahawks have reportedly chosen not to tag Kenneth Walker as a designated player.
Key Points
Okada and Holani were Seattle’s only ERFAs, and both were tendered Monday.
ERFA rule: once tendered, the player can’t negotiate with other teams, it’s essentially “take it or sit.”
Okada is coming off a major role jump (11 starts, 65 tackles in 2025).
Holani returned from IR in the postseason and filled a bigger role after Zach Charbonnet’s injury.
Beyond the names, this is the type of early-offseason move contenders make to protect the middle of the roster before the bigger-ticket decisions arrive. Exclusive rights tenders don’t grab the same headlines as a splashy veteran signing, but they matter for roster math: Seattle keeps a starting-caliber defensive piece in Ty Okada and a proven special teams contributor in George Holani without exposing either to the market. It also keeps competition in camp intact at safety and running back as Seattle looks to “run it back” in 2026.
Seahawks News: Seattle Tendered Exclusive Rights Free Agents Ty Okada and George Holani and What It Means
An exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) is a player with two or fewer accrued seasons whose contract is up. If the team makes a qualifying one-year tender offer, the player is not allowed to negotiate with other clubs.
The practical takeaway: Seattle just kept two contributors cheaply and without competition on the open market, exactly the kind of housekeeping move teams do before bigger free agency decisions hit.
Seattle’s move comes with the new league year approaching Wednesday, March 11 (4 p.m. ET), per reporting on the 2026 free agency timeline.
Ty Okada’s 2025 Breakout Put Him on the 2026 Defensive Depth Chart
Okada went from a limited-role player early in his career to an every-week piece in 2025. He played all 17 games, started 11, and posted 65 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 6 passes defended.
If Seattle keeps leaning into three-safety looks (a common modern sub-package), retaining a proven, affordable safety matters, especially if veteran contract decisions reshape the back end. That’s where Okada’s tender is more than a footnote: it protects the floor of the secondary while the Seahawks handle higher-cost negotiations elsewhere.
George Holani’s Tender Keeps RB Depth Intact After Late-Season Injuries
Holani appeared in 11 regular-season games in 2025 and contributed on offense and special teams before landing on injured reserve, then returning in the postseason and logging meaningful snaps when injuries hit the running back room.
His signature moment: the unusual Week 2 special teams touchdown in Pittsburgh, when he recovered a kickoff in the end zone after a Steelers gaffe.
A low-cost tender for Holani doesn’t prevent Seattle from adding a veteran or drafting a back, but it does preserve a known fit on special teams and as an emergency No. 2/No. 3 runner, exactly what contenders like to stockpile.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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