As the 2026 NFL draft approaches, among the Seattle Seahawks‘ main focuses is their running back situation. It’s obvious that losing Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs will leave a hole in their running back room, but that’s what happens when a team wins a Super Bowl. It just becomes impossible to meet salary requirements when players’ salaries skyrocket.
So, heading into the draft, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider have the task of finding a Walker replacement. Of course, he’s can’t truly be replaced, but they would be wise to pick up a budding running back, as they did with Walker out of Michigan State University, and getting him on the path to being a possible RB1.
The Seattle Seahawks have been linked to a range of running backs in the NFL draft, so it comes down to how high the team will pick a running back and which players will be available at that point. The event is set for April 23 to 25 in Pittsburgh.
Seattle Seahawks Beat Writer Names the ‘Most Likely’ Running Back Choice for Mike Macdonald and John Schneider
So, who will the team welcome during the draft to take over in the running back position? In a Saturday, April 11 feature for 12th Man Rising, Jonathan Eig lays out one player who he says is the “most likely” candidate: Mike Washington Jr. out of the University of Arkansas. Eig also mentions that he’s one of the names that keeps coming up for Seattle.
“This is the most likely runner that Schneider will acquire,” Eig states in the piece. “In what is seen as a down year for running backs, Washington is typically ranked as the third or fourth best, with a third-round draft grade.”
According to Eig, Washington is faster than Walker, clocking in with a 4.33 speed. “His time over the first ten yards, which is vital for a runner, is quite good, too, though he is not as explosive as Walker,” he adds.
If the Seahawks don’t want to take chances, they’ll go for Washington as the team’s second-round pick. They could also wait it out, but there’s a good chance the player won’t be available later in the draft.
Eig adds that he doesn’t think Washington will be an all-out replacement for Walker, but he could be paired with Emanuel Wilson. “If he thrives in that role, Washington would then be the logical choice to take over the role Charbonnet has been handling should Charbonnet depart via free agency in 2027,” he adds.
Why Mike Washington Jr. Could Be a Fit for the Seattle Seahawks Amid Kenneth Walker III’s Departure
So, Washington is fast, young and one of the more promising running backs in the 2026 NFL draft class. Even though it may seem too optimistic to think he could step in for a seasoned running back like Walker, remember that the Seahawks drafted Walker in 2022, and he immediately had a standout rookie season with the team, with 1,050 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns.
So, while it will be impossible to instantly replace Walker, drafting a rookie to eventually fill his shoes may make the most since for Seattle.
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