All Seahawks

2018 NFL re-draft has Seahawks passing on what-might-have-been RB Rashaad Penny

The Seattle Seahawks may have made a mistake taking Rashaad Penny in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.
Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

In this story:


The Seattle Seahawks are seven years removed from their decision to select Rashaad Penny in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The running back out of San Diego State was a surprise first-round pick and he failed to live up to Seattle's expectations of him.

That's why Pro Football Focus didn't have Penny going to the Seahawks in their 2018 re-draft exercise. Instead, the Seahawks selected offensive lineman Brian O'Neill.

Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium
Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

"The Packers originally jumped up to this spot to draft cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Seahawks didn’t pick until the end of the first round back in 2018, before eventually drafting running back Rashaad Penny, who never managed more than 750 rushing yards in any of his six regular seasons," Pro Football Focus wrote.

"If they had a do-over here, Seattle may try to pair Duane Brown at left tackle with O'Neill at right tackle. O'Neill would have been the perfect solution on the right side, having logged more than 7,100 snaps there in his seven NFL seasons, with only one year of recording a sub-70.0 PFF overall grade."

O'Neill has been one of the best tackles of the league since joining the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.

The Seahawks eventually fixed their offensive tackle problem by selecting Charles Cross in the 2022 NFL Draft, but the team's woes in that wedge of the football field has plagued them for a long time.

While the Seahawks can't go back and correct their errors, they can move forward trying their best to make up for their mistakes of the past.

Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium
Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

More Seahawks on SI stories

Jarran Reed’s colorful take on Byron Murphy was worth repeating 3 times

Mike Macdonald doesn’t want to rush settling on starting offensive line

Seahawks playmaker among NFL rookies who’ll make biggest impact

Seahawks share look at rookie QB Jalen Milroe’s awesome arm power


Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several On SI sites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid and resides in Central Florida. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener.