Most Seattle Seahawks fans would love to see Kenneth Walker III rejoin the team at some point this offseason. Still, given the rising demand and interest from around the NFL for Walker, Seattle might be left disappointed, but also unsurprised if Walker decides to sign elsewhere.
His playoff run — and Super Bowl performance — will go down in Seahawks lore as one of the best individual runs for a Seahawks player in franchise history, and it's because of that, and his MVP as well, that teams could be lining up for him in a way they wouldn't have last offseason.
If Walker and the Seahawks are unable to reach an agreement, John Schneider will be forced to seek help from someone else. If the rumors are true coming out of a particular AFC East team, which was also once an offensive juggernaut, the Seahawks might have an answer there.
If the Seahawks lose out on Kenneth Walker III, the Miami Dolphins may have an answer
One of the Dolphins' greatest offensive strengths in the past few years has not been Tua Tagovailoa's sensational connection with Tyreek Hill. That said, their connection was once as deadly as any other quarterback-wide receiver connection across the league.
Alternatively, Miami's offensive power has been geared toward the running threat of De'Von Achane, and it's the latter who could be the Seahawks' answer should Walker leave in free agency.
According to NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Ben Solak, Miami could be looking at even more drastic changes to its team after already releasing several players. ESPN puts the chances of Achane being moved at 10 percent, but that means there is still a chance, albeit small.
"The league seems to believe the Dolphins are in a full rebuild," Graziano and Solak wrote, "which means they're getting calls on all of their star players. My sense is that they're far more likely to extend Achane's contract than to listen to those trade offers, but in their situation, you answer the phone when it rings."
The dollars and cents do make sense for the Seahawks, who, if they lose Walker, are unlikely to make a massive splash with a big star-name receiver. While Achane doesn't exactly carry the same star label after Walker was the Super Bowl MVP, he remains one of the NFL's most explosive backs in his own right.
Not only will Seattle need a running back if Walker leaves, but the status of Zach Charbonnett is also in the air as he recovers from an ACL tear that occurred during the playoffs. That said, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald has said he's optimistic about Charbonnett's return after his recovery is complete.
Still, Charbonnett isn't a No. 1 back, which means the Seahawks still have to fill that hole even if he does return next season at some point. Achane, via a trade, could help the Seahawks with that. Even as Miami's offense faltered in 2025, Achane's numbers have been impressive all three seasons he's played there.
Despite hitting the 1,000-yard plateau just once, he has recorded a ridiculous 35 touchdowns on the ground and air in three years. If Achane were put in the position to be Seattle's leading rusher, there should be little doubt that he couldn't be extremely productive. For the Seahawks, Achane wouldn't currently have a massive cap hit, which works in their favor.
Seattle would likely have to give up their third-round draft pick (they do not have a fourth or fifth) to move on Achane, but would also have to include either another future draft pick or another player. It's never as easy as it is said to be, but a trade for the Dolphins' running back is certainly within Seattle's limits and interest, if they do, in fact, lose Walker.