The Biggest Question the Seahawks Still Haven’t Answered After Free Agency

The Seattle Seahawks may be the defending Super Bowl champions, but they still need to figure out what they are going to do at the running back position for next season.

The Seahawks lost Kenneth Walker III in free agency when he signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, but they are still looking for his replacement. They have a number of different directions they can go in without a clear standout after nearly a month of free agency.

Here's a look at the options they have explored:

Zach Charbonnet

The Seahawks are hoping Zach Charbonnet can return from his torn ACL at some point during the season. There's a good chance that he could be around during the stretch run of the year. That being said, the Seahawks are going to need more than just Charbonnet to get through an entire season at the running back spot.

That's why the Seahawks are looking into other options, some of which are seen below.

Emanuel Wilson

The lone free agency signing the Seahawks have made at this point is Emanuel Wilson, who spent the last three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Wilson has just two starts to his name throughout his career, so he might not be the long-term answer for the team, but there is potential for him to contribute to a deeper rotation.

George Holani

The Seahawks re-sign George Holani to a one-year deal, which shows that the team is still willing to invest in him. Holani was the backup running back behind Walker during the NFC Championship and Super Bowl when Charbonnet was on the sidelines, so it's possible that he might be able to remain towards the top of the depth chart now that Walker is no longer in the picture.

Najee Harris (or another veteran)

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris catches the ball during offseason workouts. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Seahawks brought in veteran running back Najee Harris in for a visit last month, but no deal came of it. Harris ran for over a thousand yards in each of his first four seasons in the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This past season, Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he tore his Achilles after just three games with the team. It might be a risk to bring in a player that already has some bumps and bruises on him through the NFL, but it's certainly an option the Seahawks have to consider at this point.

Rookie in NFL Draft

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

There is an extremely high likelihood that the Seahawks end up taking a running back at some point during the draft. The team has three picks in the first three rounds and that represents a sweet spot for skill players.

General manager John Schneider drafted a running back in the second round in 2022 and 2023. That ended up being Walker and Charbonnet, two players that ended up winning a Super Bowl with them. It's possible that the front office might return to that formula again in 2026.

Potential rookies the Seahawks might look at include Washington's Jonah Coleman, Arkansas' Mike Washington Jr., and Nebraska's Emmitt Johnson.

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