Free agency has been a significant period of loss for the defending champion Seattle Seahawks, with several key players moving on to new teams. Headlining that group is Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker. The veteran running back signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving Seattle to reshape its running back room.
Of course, Zach Charbonnet is returning as the leader of the new group, but he will have some new running mates. The Seahawks recently added one of those running mates, signing former Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson to a one-year contract. Seattle may not be done either.
In a recent ESPN piece by NFL analyst Bill Barnwell, he named the best team fits for some of the top remaining free agents. The Seahawks appeared on the list as the best fit for veteran running back Brian Robinson Jr.
Seattle Seahawks named best fit for free agent running back Brian Robinson Jr.
Robinson, a third-round pick of the Washington Commanders in 2022, spent his first three NFL seasons with the Commanders before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers and playing for them this past season. Now, he’s a free agent for the first time in his career and looking for a team to play the 2026 season with.
Barnwell explained that Robinson is an effective runner between the tackles but is limited at the position outside of that. Still, the analyst argues that Robinson would be a good fit in Seattle with Walker gone and Charbonnet recovering from an ACL. Even with Wilson recently signed, Barnwell says Robinson is a better lead back.
"The Seahawks need a replacement for Kenneth Walker III who can shoulder a meaningful workload, given that Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season after tearing an ACL in the playoffs. The Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal this week, but Robinson would offer a more consistent rushing performance and ably serve as the lead back in the rotation while Charbonnet recuperates."Bill Barnwell (ESPN)
It’s hard to argue with any of the points made by Barnwell, and unless a team has a star at the position, more is better in the backfield. So it definitely makes sense for the Seahawks to pursue Brian Robinson Jr. as they enter the 2026 season without Kenneth Walker.