Would Jonathan Stewart be a good fit with the Seahawks?
By Lee Vowell
Jonathan Stewart visited the Seahawks on Thursday. He is a running back that fits Seattle’s style with his size. But should the Seahawks take a chance with signing him?
We all know that Jonathan Stewart should not be the number one running back on probably any NFL team, especially the Seattle Seahawks. But Seattle does need running back depth. Chris Carson and Mike Davis are expected to be the lead backs for Seattle next season. (At least, currently; But with all the changes happening in Seattle right now, who knows?) But neither Carson nor Davis have shown they can stay healthy for a full season.
Again, let me be clear: If Seattle signs Jonathan Stewart, it is not with the expectation he is the lead back. And sure, the Seahawks made a huge mistake and wasted money on signing Eddie Lacy last offseason. But signing Stewart would not be the same. The former Carolina Panther will not take up much payroll. And he won’t be expected to be even the number two back.
This makes signing Stewart even more interesting. He has been a productive running back with lots of playoff experience. He knows what is expected to help a team be a winner. Stewart does not have a history of fumbling either. Do all these things make him a future Hall of Famer? No. But a third-string running back on the Seahawks? At least a possibility, yes.
Stewart also has the desired size for a Seattle running back. He is 5’11” and 235 pounds. This should not be underappreciated when it comes to Seattle’s interest.
Jonathan Stewart also plays better late in the season than earlier in the year. As the Charlotte Observer pointed out in an article from December, Stewart has seven rushes of 40 or more yards in his career in December and January. Only two other active backs have more than that.
Related Story: Richard Sherman gets released and that is a bad thing...
I can already feel the angry emails coming in. Again, I don’t want Jonathan Stewart to be the starter in Seattle. I want him to be the number three. And if the money is right, the Seahawks should sign him to be that.