What’s the Seahawks’ plan at running back in 2026?

Seattle Seahawks General manager John Schneider gave a hint to the NFL combine about how negotiations with running backs will go. Kenneth Walker III I can go.

Speaking to reporters in Indianapolis, Schneider said that although the Seahawks would love to re-sign the Super Bowl LX MVP, they have to do the job with their entire team in mind. What they meant was that they were not going to get involved in a bidding war – even with one of the NFL’s healthiest salary cap situations – lest it hinder their ability to retain other parts of their championship roster.

So it was a bit of a surprise when the Seahawks let Walker go Three-year, $43.05 million deal with kansas city chiefs A few minutes after the opening of the negotiation window last Monday. It was unlikely that Seattle was going to pay top-five running back money for someone who shared photos with Zach Charbonnet Will stay in a timeshare in 2025 and possibly 2026.

Schneider & Co. takes an equally disciplined approach with safety kobe ​​bryantwho signed Three-year, $40 million deal with Chicago Bears. Those losses plus the expected departure of the cornerback. rick woolen and outside linebacker boy sorry That positions the Seahawks to receive a projected four compensatory picks in 2027, according to OverTheCap.

As smart as those decisions were, they left some holes for the Seahawks to fill, including a need for speed in their post-Walker backfield.

After adding Power Runner to ex-Green Bay Packer Emmanuel Wilson to pair with George Holani And Charbonnet – who is recovering A torn ACL cost him the playoffs –Seattle now needs to find someone who can recapture the home-run-hitting ability that has been missing since Walker left.

Seahawks showed no seriousness in signing tyler algerAccording to a source close to the situation, despite earlier speculation of free agency linking Seattle to the former atlanta falcons Back. he saw a potential target Washington Commanders‘ chris rodriguez jr. Sign a two-year, $10 million deal with jacksonville jaguarsthen added wilson one year deal It is worth up to $2.1 million.

Drafted out of Division II Fort Valley State in George in 2023, Wilson spent his first three seasons in Green Bay. As a backup of josh jacobs Over the last two, he added 998 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 228 carries (4.4 average), adding 147 receiving yards and a touchdown on 26 catches over that span.

At 5-foot-10 and 226 pounds, Wilson looks better suited to help replace Charbonnet’s power running style than replicate Walker’s explosiveness.

“Our professional staff did a great job evaluating, identifying Emanuel and saying, this is a 230-pound guy with great legs,” Schneider said on his Seattle Sports 710-AM radio show. “You sign a one-year deal like this, it’s like, come, come, be a part of our culture, prove it, see what you can do and compete with the group. He gives us something different. He’s a heavy runner, and [we’re] Excited about that.”

The Seahawks will continue to add to their backfield, which will likely be without Charbonnet for a large portion of 2026.

Both Schneider and coach Mike McDonald have expressed optimism about Charbonnet’s prognosis following surgery to repair a torn ACL. But that surgery didn’t happen until late February, meaning there’s still a chance he might not be ready until the second half of next season.

“If it was up to Charbs, he probably would have handled it and played the last two games,” Schneider told the station. “Again, he’s a true professional. He’s very strong and his work ethic is excellent. … The surgery went very well and the outlook is good. I’m sure he’ll attack his rehab as he always does.”

Twice on his weekly radio show, Schneider has praised Holani for the job he did in the playoffs after taking over the No. 2 role following Charbonnet’s loss. The production wasn’t flashy – 44 scrimmage yards on nine touches in two games – but Holani was effective as a receiver out of the backfield and provided what Schneider called “elite” pass protection.

“One thing that got overlooked in those last two games – and I was talking to Mike McDonald about this – George, he was awesome in the NFC title game and the Super Bowl,” Schneider said. “Every time he goes to a game he just performs.”

The Seahawks believe Holani has the ability to handle RB2 duties full-time. But the 2024 undrafted free agent also isn’t known as the kind of big-play threat that Walker has been in his four NFL seasons. Including the playoffs, Walker’s 34 carries of more than 20 yards in his career are the fourth-most among running backs over that span.

Despite running the ball at the NFL’s highest rate, the Seahawks finished fifth with 75 plays of 20-plus yards during the regular season. His eight plays of at least 50 yards were second most (the Patriots had 10).

After losing Walker, they took a significant step toward maintaining some of that explosiveness he re-signed Wide receiver/Pro Bowl kick returner Rasheed Shaheed Three years for another $51 million. Martyr gives Seattle a big game supplement Cooper KuppChain-moving skills are set as a secondary option at the back Jackson Smith-Njigba.

If Horton can stay healthy after having his rookie season cut short due to a knee injury, the Seahawks’ receiver corps should not lack for speed. But it’s less clear where that will come from in their backfield. kenny mackintosh There may be an answer, but the 2024 seventh-round pick is recovering from an ACL injury after missing time due to a separate knee injury as a rookie.

The Dolphins’ roster purge has some wondering about a potential trade D’Von AchaneBut ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this week that Miami has told interested teams that 4th year speedster not available.

That means the draft – where are they Currently there are only four selections – Could be a potential path for the Seahawks to address their backfield speed need. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reed recently predicted the Seahawks’ draft picks mike washington jr., running back from Arkansas in the second round His latest mock draft.

“We love the guys on our team right now, but we’ll continue to focus on that situation,” Schneider said.