Seahawks: 3 free agent running backs Seattle should sign this offseason

Sony Michel

Seattle hasn’t used its backs too much – not enough, in my opinion – in the passing game. Instead, Russell Wilson usually goes to his excellent receivers, D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, more often than not. And while having that quality of receiver is a good thing, forcing the ball to them when a simple check-down would be better is a bad move. Seattle could not keep drives alive last year and that hurt the defense greatly.

The good thing, however, is that the offense appeared to be settling into a new norm of how it should be run in the last part of the season. Maybe it just took a while for Wilson and Company to acclimate to Shane Waldron’s system. Whatever the reason for the change, the Seahawks scored 89 points in the last two games and were legit points and not accidental.

Adding a player like Michel would make the 2022 offense better. Michel is a good running back and is used to being a part of a rotation instead of needing to be the main back on a team. Three times in Michel’s four seasons he has gained at least 845 yards rushing. His career yards per carry is a decent 4.2.

Michel had three games where he ran for 92 yards or more this season with two games of 121 yards or more.

Michel can also catch passes out of the backfield. He had 21 receptions in 2021 with the Rams while playing only 49 percent of offensive snaps. He also won’t turn the ball over as he has four fumbles in four years in the league.