Seahawks 2021 draft: 5 running backs that could replace Chris Carson

Seahawks rounds 4 through 6

Because the Seahawks have just four draft picks and they are mostly back of the drafts ones, I am not going to rank what running backs Seattle can get based on who the best backs are in the NFL draft. That would be dumb as Seattle is likely not to be in a position to draft the top two backs or so. What I am looking at are those backs that would be the best fits for Seattle, starting with backs who could be taken in rounds 4 through 6.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Oklahoma

Stevenson is a big back, just like Pete Carroll wants his running backs to be. The Oklahoma product is 6-feet tall and weighs 240 pounds or so. That’s big and I can already envision Carroll thinking of how Stevenson would fit with the Seahawks.

Stevenson does have some quickness for his size, though, so he has the ability to be a three-down back in the NFL. He was suspended for part of the 2020 season for failing a drug test but doesn’t otherwise seem to get in off-field trouble.

Brenden Knox, Marshall

Knox isn’t as big as Stevenson but still has a stocky build and is difficult to bring down. He also expected to run a 4.6 40-yard dash at the combine. So to weigh 220 pounds and still run with good speed could make Knox’s draft stock rise.

One concern is how well Knox will hold up over an entire season. Knox started the season five 100-yard rushing games over his first six games. But in the last three games of the year, Knox didn’t run for more than 76 yards in any one game and had two games with an average-yard-per-carry of less than 4.

Trey Sermon, Ohio State

Sermon began his college career at Oklahoma and had a really good sophomore season when he ran for 947 yards and 13 touchdowns. Before his senior season, though, Sermon transferred to Ohio State where he shared carries with Master Teague. Sermon is another 220-pound guy who runs with the power that Seattle is likely to require.

Sermon also doesn’t fumble much and this will be another requirement from Pete Carroll. The only real issue with Sermon is he isn’t that athletic and beating NFL defenders out in space once he gets through the line might be a challenge for him.