Seahawks Urged to Take SEC Running Back in Second Round of NFL Draft

The Seattle Seahawks are keeping an eye on the running back rookie crop because they are in need of adding some new blood to the rushing attack.

The Seahawks currently have Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL, so they need to address the position at some point during the draft because they did not find a surefire replacement in free agency. The team signed Emanuel Wilson from the Green Bay Packers, but he only has two career starts to his name, so it might make sense for the Seahawks to target a player like Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr.

"Washington could go later on Day 2, but he has the tape and speed to move up into the final slot of the second round. Seattle has a need at the position, as Kenneth Walker III signed with the Chiefs and Zach Charbonnet is still recovering from a torn ACL," ESPN analyst Matt Bowen wrote.

"Under new coordinator Brian Fleury -- who coached with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco -- we should expect a run game that leans on motion and movement in both zone and gap concepts. Washington has the lateral agility to fit in that scheme, and he can dart through daylight with his 4.33 speed. His frame can handle NFL volume, plus he can produce on swings and screens as a pass catcher. Washington averaged 8.1 yards per reception in 2025."

Mike Washington Jr. Could Be Seahawks New RB

Mike Washington Jr. of Arkansas runs the ball during American Senior Bowl practice | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Washington appears to provide a lot of versatility to the table, and that's exactly what the Seahawks are looking for. The team has a lot of uncertainties at the position when it comes to Wilson, Charbonnet, and others' abilities to succeed.

Therefore, bringing in someone like Washington that can do a little bit of everything could be the right move for the Seahawks moving forward. The team can bring him into the building, see where he best fits, and put him in a position to succeed.

The Seahawks selected both Kenneth Walker III and Charbonnet in the second round of their respective drafts and found a lot of success. The Seahawks have a knack for finding the right running back talent early on day two. Maybe general manager John Schneider has another second-round running back hidden up his sleeve.

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