5 bold predictions for the Seattle Seahawks 2023 NFL draft
By Lee Vowell
Bold prediction No. 3: The Seahawks choose a running back in the second round again
In my first bold prediction in this article, I had the Seahawks trading with the Cowboys and Seattle adding a third second-round choice. With pick number 58, Seattle will choose UCLA running back Zach Charbonnet. Charbonnet is 6 feet and 220 pounds and could even gain a bit more weight and be effective in the NFL.
Charbonnet is also a good fit for Seattle's system and would make a great number two behind Kenneth Walker III. Charbonnet is strong enough to take on a decent workload immediately and has enough speed to spell Walker if Walker has to be out for any length of time. In 2022, Charbonnet ran for 1,359 yards but also averaged a whopping 7.0 yards per carry.
And he has a nose for the end zone. In three of Charbonnet's four seasons in college, he ran for 11 or more touchdowns. He began his college career at Michigan and as a freshman scored 11 touchdowns on just 149 carries. After transferring to UCLA in 2021, Charbonnet had 13 rushing TDs and had 14 more in 2022.
Charbonnet is also an excellent blocker who actually likes to take on would-be blitzers. One of the most difficult things for a rookie running back is to learn blocking assignments and sometimes this is a reason a running back doesn't play right away. Charbonnet shouldn't have that issue.