Seattle Seahawks: 3 players headed into make-or-break seasons in 2020

RB Rashaad Penny

Admittedly, my mind was blown when the Seahawks decided to spend their 2018 first-round pick on Rashaad Penny. It wasn’t necessarily because he was a running back, but instead because they chose him over clearly superior options still on the board.

Players like Sony Michel and Nick Chubb were still available. In just about everyone’s book (expect John Schneider’s, obviously), both were rated higher than Penny. Still, the Seahawks decided he was their guy and called his name at No. 27.

What have been the results through two seasons? Not what Seattle was hoping for, that’s for sure.

Despite solid production (5.3 yards per carry, six total touchdowns) when he does see the field, he hasn’t managed to carve out a significant workload. Instead, he’s been eclipsed by Chris Carson, a 2017 seventh-round pick. Furthermore, the Seahawks haven’t been shy about drafting other running backs — they spent a sixth-round pick in 2019 and a fourth-round pick in 2020.

Part of the problem with Penny has been health. The young runner seems to constantly be injured and is currently nursing an ACL tear that will likely force him to miss the start of the 2020 campaign (whenever that is). That’s beside the point, though. Part of delivering on your draft status is being able to stay healthy, which Penny hasn’t been able to do.

It’s now or never for Penny. He needs to get healthy, get back on the field and prove his worth. Otherwise, we could see him sent packing before the 2020 season is at its end.