The Seattle Seahawks have undergone an offensive overhaul this offseason. A new offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, has been hired, quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf were traded, receiver Tyler Lockett was released, and Seattle signed Cooper Kupp.
But is it possible that Seattle's most underappreciated player was an offensive guy already on the team? Gennaro Filice of the official NFL website thinks so.
Filice recently produced an article that names, in his opinion, each team's underappreciated player. With the Seahawks, there are a number to choose from. Safety Coby Bryant might fit that definition, or perhaps punter Michael Dickson. Instead, Filice chose running back Kenneth Walker III.
One NFL analyst names Kenneth Walker III as the Seahawks most underappreciated player
The issue with Walker is not that he is currently underappreciated. He has simply been too banged up over the last couple of years to prove his real value. 12s know he is explosive but also a boom-or-bust type runner. He hesitates before trying to run through the line and suffers too many tackles for loss.
Still, few backs in the league have Walker's ability to create splash plays. When he is healthy and running well, he is a threat. He also might be a great fit in Kubiak's scheme.
Kubiak likes running backs who can catch passes, and Walker can certainly do that. He has a catch rate of 81.6 percent over his three-year career and has two receiving touchdowns. He had a career high with 46 catches in 2024, even though he missed six games. If he can stay mostly healthy in 2025, he could reach 65 catches.
This coming season would also be a good one for Walker to show he can be available for most games while at the same time reaching maximum production. He is in the final season of his rookie deal. While running backs are facing a compressed market in today's NFL, Walker has the ability for a team to make him one of the highest-paid players at his position.
Filice writes of Walker, "Walker was appropriately appreciated during his debut campaign of 2022, when he cleared 1,000 yards rushing and finished a close second to Garrett Wilson in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. But the running back’s past two seasons have been marred by injuries and the continual deterioration of Seattle’s offensive line."
Of course, that last bit doesn't cause Walker to be underappreciated, but more of a frustration for fans, and, likely, the player himself. Seahawks fans want to see Walker play and do well, but he must also learn that he must play even when he isn't 100 percent.
There is also a chance that his backup, Zach Charbonnet, is the most underappreciated Seahawk. While Walker's yards per rush have decreased each season, Charbonnet's have remained the same, even behind the same poor offensive line. If Walker gets injured or is inefficient early in 2025, Charbonnet could replace him and be the team's long-term RB1.