With Seahawks signing of Chris Carson the running back group now a strength

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed running back Chris Carson on Friday. Seattle now has its lead RB back for at least two years. The deal is reportedly for three years but the third year is voidable. Carson will definitely be under contract for two years at $14.624 million and the third year would make the total $24.625 million.

Carson will be guaranteed $5.5 million this coming year and could make up to $6.9 million. Had the Seahawks placed the franchise tag on Carson they would have likely had to pay Carson more than what they will by working out a deal. This in essence saved Seattle money while keeping one of the NFL’s top backs in a Seahawks uniform.

Now with Carson returning, Seattle’s running back group should include Rashaad Penny, Alex Collins, DeeJay Dallas and possibly Travis Homer, if Seattle keeps five running backs on its roster. The question with this group isn’t talent – there is an abundance of that – but health.

Seahawks re-signing of Chris Carson a very good thing

Carson has never played a full season and neither has Penny. Carson is a punishing runner and his style does not lend itself to playing 16 games a year. But if Carson can play in 13 to 14 games each of the next two seasons his contract will be worth it. Especially as Penny is due to stay healthy at some point, has shown flashes of brilliance, and will be playing most likely in the final year of his rookie deal.

Carson will be entering his fifth season in the NFL in 2021. Twice in his four seasons, he has rushed for 1,151 yards or more. He already ranks ninth on the Seahawks all-time career rushing yards list and if he runs for 1,000 yards in 2021 he will move up the 7th on the list. If Carson runs for 8 touchdowns this year he could move up the fifth among Seattle’s all-time rushing touchdowns leaders.

Carson was ill-used in 2020 and especially in the playoffs against the Rams when Seattle lost in the Wild Card round. While Seattle forced the pass against Los Angeles, when they did hand the ball off to Carson he was very productive. He finished with 16 carries for 77 yards for a 4.81 yards-per-carry. But he should have gotten the ball 30 times because the more Seattle uses Carson the more he wears on a defense.

Hopefully, in 2021, and especially with a more creative offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron, Carson will be used in more unique ways while also giving him the ball to run up the middle in what will likely be a wider-gap blocking plan. Carson is a bigger back and the type that should work well in Waldron’s scheme. Re-signing Chris Carson makes the Seahawks a good offense next year.