Seattle Seahawks re-sign Rashaad Penny in much-needed move

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly will re-sign Rashaad Penny to a one-year deal. This is a potentially great move but one that comes with obvious risks.

I am going to be honest as I started to write the headline for this article as saying the Seahawks had overpaid Penny for 2022. According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Penny will re-sign for a one-year deal worth $5.75 million but could earn up to $6.5 million. I thought $5.75 million is way too much to spend for a running back with a terrible injury history.

But then I did a little research. Chase Edmonds of the Cardinals has signed the highest deal in free agency this offseason for a running back at $12.1 million over two years. Cordarelle Patterson, who isn’t truly a running back, signed for two years and $10.5 million. Penny is better than both if he can stay healthy.

Seattle Seahawks re-sign running back Rashaad Penny

Edmonds has played four seasons in the NFL, has missed only five games, and ran for 592 yards in 2021 but also had 311 yards receiving. His average yards-per-carry was 5.1. He has mostly been able to play when his team did and has been a bit better than decent because of his receiving ability.

Patterson is more of a return guy who was forced to run the ball a lot for the Falcons in 2021 when everyone else got hurt or was ineffective. He ran for 618 yards – by far the best of his career as he has mostly been a receiver – but also had 548 yards receiving. His average yards-per-carry was 4.0.

But here’s the thing, if – and this may be the biggest if ever – Penny can stay healthy, he can run for 1,500 yards in 2022. He had 671 yards rushing in his last five games of 2021 alone. His average yards-per-carry over his four-year career is 5.6 and he led the NFL at 6.3 this past season.

Penny is very capable of being one of the better running backs in the NFL. I would have actually liked to have seen Seattle sign him to a two-year deal at around $5 million a season because if he can stay healthy in 2022 he is going to be so productive he will make a lot more in a new contract in 2023.

That said, it’s nice to see Seattle spending some money and Penny is worth spending the money on. That is if he can stay healthy. If he can’t, he shouldn’t be with the Seahawks beyond 2022.