The Seattle Seahawks need to find a replacement for Kenneth Walker, but that isn't likely to come in free agency. What seems certain is that general manager John Schneider isn't going to be able to pry running back De'Von Achane from the Miami Dolphins.
At least, not currently. The Dolphins have spent this offseason shedding veterans like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and trading receiver Jaylen Waddle, among others, but Achane appears to be one of the few players the team won't get rid of.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Miami has told the team calling about the running back in hopes of working out a trade that Achane is not, and will not be, on the market. Instead, he is being viewed as a building block for a team going through a massive rebuild.
Any Seattle Seahawks dreams of trading for the Miami Dolphins' De'Von Achane seem dashed
Achane should be. He is explosive and an excellent receiver out of the backfield. He led the NFL in yards per carry this past season at 5.7, but this is not an outlier number for him. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie in 2023.
He is exactly the kind of player that the Seahawks need in new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's system, one that should resemble what the San Francisco 49ers like to do. And, to be sure, San Fran likes to run the ball effectively and often. Seattle's current running back room is underwhelming.
That doesn't mean that the group is without talent, however. Zach Charbonnet would be expected to take over for Kenneth Walker, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, as the starter, but Charbonnet tore his ACL in the playoffs and might not be fully healthy by Week 1. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
His backups include free agent signee Emanuel Wilson, as well as George Holani and Kenny McIntosh. The latter two players have shown bursts of production, but also appear to get injured easily.
Wilson may be the surprise player of Seattle's free agency. He was a backup the last few seasons for the Green Bay Packers, averaging 4.5 yards a carry over that time. He has scored seven touchdowns over the past two seasons. Still, Wilson has never had to get the bulk of carries in Green Bay over a long period of time.
Walker's true, long-term replacement might need to come in the 2026 NFL draft. A player such as Notre Dame's Jadarian Price fits what the Seattle Seahawks want to do, and he might be available at the end of the first round. What is clear, though, is that Seattle isn't going to be trading for the Miami Dolphins' De'Von Achane.