Seahawks Face Running Back Void After Walker Defection to Chiefs
The Seattle Seahawks lost starting running back Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, a significant departure following Walker's standout Super Bowl LX MVP performance. But Seahawks General Manager John Schneider isn't panicking.
"That's a position where you can find guys," Schneider said Thursday on 710 Seattle Sports when asked about the state of Seattle's backfield. "Obviously, [Walker was] outstanding, and everybody's really excited for him. I mean, that's a great, great contract for a running back. But George [Holani] did a great job. We're really excited about Emanuel Wilson, who we got from the Green Bay Packers, a heavy runner with really nice feet."
Walker's New Deal
Walker inked a three-year, $43.1 million contract with Kansas City earlier this month, averaging roughly $14.4 million annually—fourth among NFL running backs.
Schneider's Confidence
Schneider acknowledged the skepticism but pointed to available depth. "Just to kind of quell people, at this time of the year I get it," he said. "But, like, [Zach Charbonnet] is doing great [recovering from an ACL tear]. Kenny McIntosh, he had a great [2024] season, and that was just an awful [ACL] injury for him. But I get it. And it's a position that … we know where we're at right now."
Walker's Production
Last season, Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry while adding 282 receiving yards. In three playoff games, he dominated with 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns, including 135 yards in the Super Bowl and 116 yards with three scores in the divisional round against San Francisco.
A second-round pick in 2022, Walker rushed for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. From 2023-25, he shared carries with Charbonnet, who tore his ACL in January and likely won't be ready for the 2026 season start.
Seahawks' Backfield Options
Seattle signed Emanuel Wilson on a one-year deal after he averaged 499 rushing yards and 3.5 touchdowns per season with Green Bay. The Seahawks' running back room also includes McIntosh, Holani, Cam Akers, and Jacardia Wright.
With four draft picks—No. 32, 64, 96, and 188—the Seahawks have ammunition to address the position in the coming months.
