The Seattle Seahawks have been linked to multiple prominent running backs in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL draft. Some are prospects who will hear their names called in less than two weeks in Pittsburgh.
Others are established NFL veterans whom general manager John Schneider would have to acquire by trade. To be clear, those veteran targets are pure speculation at this point. There is a logic to such deals, but there has been no significant indication that anything is actually under discussion.
The mere fact that so many running backs are being associated with Seattle at this point suggests that everyone recognizes how much the Seahawks’ offense will miss Kenneth Walker III this season.
How should the Seattle Seahawks proceed with their running back situation?
The fact that Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a late-season torn ACL compounds the seriousness, but this would have been an area of interest for Schneider even if Charbonnet were one hundred percent healthy.
Charbonnet is slated for free agency in 2027. Therefore, both his short-term future (due to recovery) and his long-term future (due to contract) are in doubt. And Charbonnet is not alone. Seattle has seven running backs currently under contract.
None are signed beyond the upcoming season, though two of them – George Holani and Jacardia Wright – will be subject to club control based on their restricted free agency status.
Clearly, decisions must be made, and changes are highly likely. The whispers about big-name trade targets may be entirely ephemeral, but there is an excellent chance that at least one new running back will be joining the club in the near future.
Let’s consider four of the most prominent names that have been mentioned lately.
Mike Washington Jr., University of Arkansas
This is the most likely runner that Schneider will acquire. 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. If Schneider really wants him, he can probably be Seattle’s second-round pick. If Schneider waits until the third, there is no guarantee Washington will still be available.
Washington is a punishing back with exceptional early speed. At 6’1”, 223 pounds, he has the size to run inside, and his blistering 4.33 speed is actually faster than Walker’s time. 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.
However, he does not have Walker’s ability to cut in the hole – to bounce runs outside and make a defense pay for being overly aggressive. He is a one-cut, downhill force and will gain yards in the NFL, but he will not be a real game-changer.
In that regard, I wouldn’t see Washington as a replacement for Walker as much as a back who can pair with Wilson in a committee if Charbonnet’s recovery is slow. 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.
Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Price is not the physical specimen that Washington is, but in his backup role at Notre Dame, he has proven to be a far more natural runner. Price excels in those areas that are harder to quantify – vision and contact balance. He is generally rated just ahead of Washington as a result.
Schneider may find him on the board at the end of the second round, but that is risky. Since most analysts do not consider him a first-round talent, the odds of winding up with Price are in question.
Price does not have Kenneth Walker’s rare ability to turn short between-the-tackle runs into game-breaking touchdown gallops, but he has given indications that he could be an effective lead running back in the NFL.
He is slightly undersized at 5’10”, 204 pounds, but the bigger issue is simply the fact that he has not had the chance to prove what he can do in college. Playing behind the best back in the country – Jeremiyah Love – has left everyone curious about how Price would fare if given a bigger role.
Price would be a better long-term option as a prominent back for the Seahawks than Washington, but Schneider would have to prioritize him over other positions of need in order to secure his services, and that would be the kind of gamble that Schneider has been loath to make.
De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Achane is a very dangerous speedster coming off a sensational Pro Bowl season with the Dolphins. Miami is in a total rebuild, and though they have said they will not trade their star runner, a lot of people in the league believe he could be had for a price.
As attempting as it would be to pair a dynamic back like Achane with either Charbonnet or Wilson this year, I’d be cautious of the move. Achane was indeed highly productive both as a runner and as a pass catcher last year, and it is also true that he is just 24 and has minimal wear and tear on his body.
But his frame is significantly slimmer than the other backs under discussion. And despite his obvious speed, Achane has posted surprisingly average burst scores. Though he was excellent in a lead role last year, I would worry about his ability to hold up as a true lead back over the long term.
Achane would demand a price that would make him Seattle’s de facto RB1. It doesn’t make sense to pay the necessary price to have him simply be the lightning in a thunder and lightning tandem.
Breece Hall, New York Jets
This is the back I want. This is the back that most closely resembles Walker. He combines speed and power. He has exceptional burst and very good running instincts. He is a very good receiver.
The Jets are in the same situation as the Dolphins. They have denied that Hall is on the market, but it would certainly be worth making a phone call. Achane was better – by a reasonably wide margin – in 2025, and he has a bit more tread on this tire, so the asking price for Hall should be comparable to that of Achane.
Though he does have a few extra miles, Hall is still just 24 and playing in a quality system, could be a top-five running back in the NFL.
I think there is a very good chance that Schneider ends up drafting either Washington or Price in a couple of weeks, and I don’t think there is much chance of Achane coming to the Northwest.
But Breece Hall is too intriguing to ignore. He gives Seattle the best chance of defending its Lombardi Trophy in 2026. I cannot say if John Schneider shares my opinion, but I would hope he is at least having conversations about the Jets runner.
