Winners and losers from Seahawks 2022 draft, but mostly winners

Loser — Chris Carson

What a turbulent career it’s been for running back Chris Carson. After exploding onto the scene after being a 7th-round choice in 2017, he’s consistently been one of the most effective HBs in the league — when he’s been able to stay on the field.

But as the old adage goes, the best ability is availability, and Carson has missed half of the Seahawks’ games in the last two years. Furthermore, Rashaad Penny gave Seattle’s running game new life in the back half of last season, adding an element of speed the Seahawks haven’t seen since the halcyon days of Shaun Alexander.

Adding onto that, Seattle’s selection of Kenneth Walker trails only Penny, Alexander, and Curt Warner for the highest pick the Seahawks have ever used on a running back. Of course, that high of pick makes sense after Walker ran for 1,636 yards at Michigan State in 2021. His average carry was 6.2 yards and scored a total of 19 touchdowns.

Pete Carroll has remained abnormally tight-lipped about Chris Carson’s neck injury, leading many to speculate an early (and possibly forced) retirement for Carson. With two highly-touted halfbacks in the locker room, that possibility looms much larger.