Kenneth Walker III is now an undisputed No. 1 option for an NFL team, something he never got to live out during his four years with the Seattle Seahawks. Walker was part of a dual running back system in Seattle, sharing the load with Zach Charbonnet. Now, it's a whole other world for him.
With the Kansas City Chiefs, Walker is their franchise running back, and he's getting paid like one, too, something the Seahawks weren't willing or able to do for Walker. At the end of the day, it worked out best for both sides. Walker got his money, and the role he desired, and the Seahawks saved their money and used it toward other priorities.
That said, what Walker did for the Seahawks in his final season, and especially the postseason and the Super Bowl, will never be forgotten. Unfortunately, while Walker was in the middle of doing his best work for the Seahawks at the end, he already knew it would last much longer in that jersey.
Kenneth Walker III opens up to NBC Sports' Mike Florio on his exit from the Seattle Seahawks
Walker's contract with the Chiefs is a three-year, $43.05 million deal with $28.7 million fully guaranteed. Suffice it to say, that’s not bad at all for a running back who's never carried a team as a primary option before.
Clearly, the Chiefs view Walker as a back who can do that if given the opportunity. He went from one Super Bowl winner to another, which is another win for Walker. In Kansas City, Walker will enjoy not having to think about when his last carry will come or prepare himself for an exit, like he was preparing for before last season even ended.
Speaking with NFL insider for NBC Sports, Mike Florio, earlier this week, Walker opened up on when he knew the window was closing on his time as a Seahawk. Even though the Seahawks were experiencing success, Walker still knew.
“I would say, if I’m being honest, sometime during the season,” Walker said. “Things didn’t work out how I expected, and that’s all right because it worked out for the team. But yeah, it was during the season, and then once free agency came around, you pretty much knew you weren’t going to be there anymore. Me, personally, I knew I wasn’t going to be there anymore.”
There is some level of tragedy in Walker's story, or at least, how it ended in Seattle. To be playing on a team that wins every Sunday, goes straight through two division rivals in the playoffs, and not just wins the Super Bowl but is crowned its MVP, all while knowing you're not coming back, has to rattle a player's emotions.
At least Walker can rest on the fact that he went out as a winner with the Seahawks, and his four years in Seattle prepared him for what's to come in Kansas City, a situation Walker is excited to be part of, especially considering the head coach and quarterback combination the Chiefs are blessed with. Walker spoke to that while appearing on FS1's First Things First on Monday.
"That definitely plays a big part in it," Walker said when asked if Andy Reid's offense played a part in drawing him to the Chiefs. "They know how to win here, you know, many Super Bowls. It was definitely a part of the decision. Me and Andy Reid, he's just a cool laid back coach, he loves the players."
Walker doubled down on the above when speaking to Kay Adams on her Up & Adams podcast. He even added that quarterback Patrick Mahomes helped recruit him to the Chiefs. The QB "had a lot to do" with Walker going to KC, and called Mahomes "the best quarterback in the league."
The good part is that Walker clearly relished his time with the Seattle Seahawks. He also told Adams he would be going back to Seattle for the ring ceremony in June.
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