Kenneth Walker III is trending toward his best season with the Seattle Seahawks. For one, he hasn't missed a game, and the running back hasn't played a full season in any of his previous three years. More importantly, he has a chance to have his best season in terms of total yards.
This is the case even though he is in a true two-back system where he is touching the ball less per game than he ever has. Maybe fewer reps are keeping him fresher.
Still, he has currently rushed for 879 yards and has 240 receiving yards. The total of 1,119 yards is less than 100 yards away from his personal best, which he set in his rookie season of 2022. With two games remaining, Walker is on the verge of a career season.
Kenneth Walker says the right words about a potential return to the Seattle Seahawks
This is coming at the best time for the player, too. He is set for free agency in 2026, and he could expect as much as $10 million a season beginning next year. Running backs are a lower priority for many teams now because the position is often decimated with players getting hurt. Walker finally staying healthy is going to help him.
Outwardly, Walker isn't thinking of next season and where he might play. He is also saying all the right words about staying in Seattle.
According to Heavy, Walker said, "I would always want to be somewhere that thought of me first and brought me in...I love it here, and this is a place I would want to be.
Hopefully, that is the case. Zach Charbonnet, the Seahawks' RB2, but a player who has just 41 fewer rushes than Walker in 2025, is a different kind of back. He has good speed, but is more of a bulldozer, while Walker is more of an explosive threat. They work well in tandem.
The loss of Walker would mean Seattle needs to prioritize drafting another running back or simply giving a heavy load to Charbonnet. Neither is as potentially positive as simply bringing Walker back and pairing him with Charbonnet.
Plus, even while the Seattle Seahawks' run blocking has been extremely inconsistent in its efficiency, Walker is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. That is up nearly a yard over 2024, and ties the best mark of his career. His 5.2 yards per touch is easily a career best.
Walker is saying all the right words about potentially returning to the Seahawks, but, likely, nearly every player would say that is what he wants to do. He isn't going to say he wants to go somewhere else that will give him more touches. That could hurt the relationship he has with his current team.
But the Seattle Seahawks re-signing Kenneth Walker in the coming offseason would be a boon to future success. He is a good running back, and watching him play elsewhere would certainly not be fun for 12s.