Virtually every decision worked out flawlessly for the Seattle Seahawks last season. From replacing Geno Smith with Sam Darnold to making Jaxon Smith-Njigba their primary wide receiver over DK Metcalf, the front office took several bold swings that ultimately paid off with a Super Bowl 60 championship.
How Kenneth Walker III’s Departure Impacts the Seahawks
That process continues this offseason. Losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III in free agency was perhaps the biggest shock of the new league year. Without a replacement yet, Seattle could look to find a new lead back in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Despite the success both Darnold and Smith-Njigba had throughout the 2025 campaign, the Seahawks remained a balanced unit. Between Zach Charbonnet and Walker, the offense featured two legitimate options to split carries.
While Charbonnet added 730 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking 39th on PFSN’s RB Impact, Walker was the lead carrier with 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, finishing at 16. The loss of Walker will be massive for Seattle, particularly after he took his play to another level in the postseason.
In free agency, Walker agreed to a three-year, $43.05 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Seattle has not made any major additions to the backfield since his departure. It feels like a foregone conclusion that they will look to bring in a replacement in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That could prove to be a challenge given the losses on the defensive end as well, including Riq Woolen, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Ian Cummings of PFSN, though, has a solution in mind.
In his latest mock draft, Cummings has the Seahawks waiting until the second round to get their guy: Mike Washington Jr. from Arkansas.
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
“Mike Washington’s 4.33 speed at 6-foot-1, 223 pounds is what sells his profile the most,” Cummings noted. “But he has the vision, pacing, pressing IQ, and finishing physicality to be a true volume back.”
Spending five years at the collegiate level, Washington had his best season with the Razorbacks in 2025. He tallied 1,070 rushing yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He was also a force in the passing game, catching 28 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown.
Ranked as the fifth-best running back prospect in the draft by PFSN, Seattle could get excellent value at the tail end of the second round with Washington.
With a new offensive coordinator expected to replace Klint Kubiak, who recently accepted the head coaching job with the Las Vegas Raiders, a talented running back could provide an insurance policy during the transition period.