How to solve the Seattle Seahawks running back room

With the NFL Draft past and the third wave of free agency drawing to a close, I think the player on the Seahawks’ roster who has the biggest question mark over his head is running back Chris Carson.

Carson appeared in only four games in 2021 before he was sidelined with what ended up being a neck injury.  Carson’s absence coincided with the explosion of Rashaad Penny in the latter third of the season, but Pete Carroll remained positive about Carson’s ability to return from his injury.

As week after week passed, it became clear that Carson would not be back in 2021, and at the beginning of the offseason most fans suspected that in 2022 Rashaad Penny would take over as the lead back over Chris Carson.

What most fans did not see coming was the selection of Kenneth Walker III, the running back some considered to be the best in the 2022 class, in the second round by the Seahawks.  Walker had a dominant 2021 season for the Michigan State Spartans, and was at one point even in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

Predicting what Seahawks 2022 running back room will look like

I expected the Seahawks to add running back depth in the draft, but I never would have guessed that they would pick up a premier talent at the top of the class.

The selection of Walker means that Rashaad Penny, who signed a one-year deal in March, will have his share of the backfield touches threatened.  Neither back is known for being stellar in the receiving game, so touches on first and second down will be valuable to these two backs.

I think that in 2022 the first and second down snaps will be split into 60 percent Penny, and 40 percent Walker.  I think Chris Carson ends up getting cut before the season begins, freeing up $3.1 million in cap space for Seattle.  Carson was a great 7th-round draft pick who lasted 4.5 years, but his long-term health is a concern and I don’t think it’s necessary to risk serious injury for a third running back on the depth chart.

Rashaad Penny’s sustainability is also a question, which is why I see Walker getting so much rub during his rookie campaign.  If Penny remains healthy, then Seattle could easily have a top-3 backfield.  If he goes down with another serious injury, then the Seahawks should have Ken Walker ready to take the lead role by 2023.

Third down work this season will likely be split three ways:  the main two backs will take short-yardage situations, Travis Homer (the best pass-blocker and possibly best receiving back on the roster) will take obvious passing downs, and DeeJay Dallas will cover the rest of the snaps.

This is a rough projection of the running back work for the 2022 season.  I think Carson ends up off the roster, which will be the biggest deciding factor for early-down work.  The determinant for the future will be Rashaad Penny’s ability to remain in good health.

If the Seahawks are able to distribute rushing work in a way that Penny stays healthy and both of their new weapons on the offensive line (Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas) pan out, the Seattle rushing attack is looking at being one of the best in the league for the foreseeable future.