It’s hard to sugarcoat this. When it comes to free agents, John Schneider did not have a good 2024. Of all the new players the Seattle Seahawks’ GM acquired via the free agent route last year, only one of them – guard Laken Tomlinson – played on more than 50 percent of his unit’s snaps.
OK – you caught me. I’m wrong. There was another new free agent who topped the 50 percent mark. That would be Tyrel Dodson. I forgot about him because he’s not actually a Seahawk anymore. Hasn’t been since Schneider released the linebacker in early November. That’s a little while after he traded another free-agent linebacker – Jerome Baker. Turns out replacing Bobby Wagner wasn’t quite so easy.
Let’s hope Schnieder has a bit more luck in 2025. Since I always try my best to be helpful, I’m here to offer a few suggestions. But I certainly don’t want to be pushy. So, instead of insisting that Seattle sign any particular player, I’ll lay out several scenarios. It’s simple.
Three free agent running backs the Seattle Seahawks should think of signing
We’ll run through position by position and I’ll present three options – one high-end, one mid-level, and one low-cost. That way, Schneider can mix and match as he sees fit. Because I’m not saying that I have all the answers or see inside the matrix. Just trying to be helpful.
Since I’ve already written several pieces on potential quarterbacks, we’ll start today with a different backfield position – running back. Actually, running back is pretty easy. The Hawks already have a very good one in Kenneth Walker III and a steady young backup in Zach Charbonnet. Kenny McIntosh and George Holani provide deep depth. It’s not exactly a position of dire need, but even so, Schneider could opt for some new blood.
Still, Walker has yet to prove he can consistently stay healthy and he missed six games in 2024. Availability is a talent, too. Seattle might need to look for extra insurance in case Walker's injury issues continue.
High-end: Najee Harris – Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris is not going anywhere as a backup. Therefore, the only scenario under which it makes sense for him to come to the great Northwest is if he is replacing Kenneth Walker. By virtually any eyeball test, Walker is a more explosive weapon than the Steeler runner. So this would seem pointless. Unless…
Walker missed a third of the Seahawks’ games in 2024. Heading into December, with the season on the line, it was Zach Charbonnet lining up next to Geno Smith. Walker had some nagging injuries in his first two seasons, and 2024 proved even more troubling.
Harris is Walker’s photo negative. He does not have Walker’s high-end speed or elusiveness, but he is always on the field. Harris has been in the league for four years. He has played in every game. He has started every game.
He is almost impossibly consistent, running for a high of 1,200 yards in his rookie year and a low of 1,034 in his second season. Between six and eight touchdowns every year. 4-yards-per-carry like clockwork. Harris is not the least bit flashy. He is just a hard-nosed power back who provides steady production. He can catch balls out of the backfield and can block.
Is it possible that Mike Macdonald, who saw Harris up close and personal when he coached the Ravens defenses that faced Harris twice a year, would prefer that type of reliable runner to the more mercurial Walker? If so, Najee Harris could be a Seahawk in 2025.
Mid-level: Jordan Mason – San Francisco 49ers
At the risk of recalling a painful memory, most Seahawks fans got their first glimpse of Jordan Mason back in 2022 when Seattle was trying to mount a desperate comeback late in the season against San Fran. On a third and three from around midfield, the rookie runner burst through a good hole, then ran through safety Ryan Neal en route to a 55-yard scamper that sealed the game for the Niners.
Earlier this season, Mason did it again to Seattle, on virtually the same play. They took a pitch left, found a big hole, and then broke through some attempted tackles in the secondary for another big gain.
Mason played a lot early in ’24 while Christian McCaffrey was out and acquitted himself quite well. He ran for better than five yards per carry. He is somewhat faster than Najee Harris, though he is not nearly as quick as Kenneth Walker. But he has excellent vision and offers a very good combination of power and speed.
Based on his strong 2024, Mason should draw some interest though he is not likely to carry a huge price tag. He might constitute an upgrade over Charbonnet and develop more of a complementary, job-sharing operation with Walker. Walker would still be the lead back, but Mason could spell him quite a bit, saving wear and tear on Walker so that he could hopefully last an entire season.
Low-cost: Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
OK, I admit it. I’m a sucker for backs from San Fran. Some analysts think this is a strike against the player. The argument is that any jobber off the street could run in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. But I think there’s something to the flip side of that logic.
Shanahan has a knack for finding runners who are overlooked by others but can do what all good professional back do. That is – they see holes – and they hit holes. Elijah Mitchell, when he has been healthy, has done that, and he has done it with more speed and explosion than Harris or Mason.
The problem is the “when healthy” part. Mitchell has only played in 27 games in a four-year career. He missed all of 2024 with a serious hamstring issue. He also missed most of 2022 and didn't look all that good in 2023. It is entirely possible that Elijah Mitchell’s professional career is at an end.
The thing is, he is still just 26 years old with only 327 carries on his resume. He has excellent speed. In his rookie season, he ran for 963 yards in just 11 games, scoring five touchdowns and picking up almost 50 first downs. He was extremely productive. When healthy. Mitchell would come in as a low-cost dart throw.
He might be a more explosive option than McIntosh as a change of pace back. It doesn’t really matter who the starter is. If Mitchell can regain his early form and stay healthy, he could be a very valuable addition to the Hawks’ backfield.
Just a little something for John Schneider and his brain trust to think about. After he’s had time to digest it, I’ll be back with some helpful hints at other positions. No need to thank me.