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It’s a working joke (pun meant) that the Seattle Seahawks wish to take working backs within the NFL Draft.
Since 2012, the Seahawks have chosen 14 working backs, a bang-on common of 1 per draft and essentially the most within the NFL. No crew has used extra mixed Day 1-2 draft picks on working backs than Seattle, and the full draft choose worth spent is essentially the most.
The one seasons beneath John Schneider/Pete Carroll wherein they didn’t choose not less than one RB have been 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2021. Even the 2010 season comes with a be aware that they traded draft picks for LenDale White and Leon Washington.
This yr’s draft might (and doubtless ought to) be one the place John Schneider sees no want to make use of one in every of his picks on a working again. They’ve spent second-rounders on Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet in consecutive seasons, and even took a Day 3 flyer on Kenny McIntosh final yr. Their solely departure this offseason was third-down again and kick/punt returner DeeJay Dallas, who signed a three-year cope with the Arizona Cardinals.
In the intervening time, Seattle’s backfield appears to be like set:
Operating backs beneath contract
Kenneth Walker III (two years remaining on his contract)
Zach Charbonnet (three years remaining on his contract)
Kenny McIntosh (three years remaining on his contract)
Bryant Koback (2023 UDFA, reserve/futures contract)
Why the Seahawks don’t have to draft a working again in any spherical
The pecking order is self-evident! Walker and Charbonnet are the 1-2 punch, if not 1a/1b relying on the matchup. For all the frustrations with Walker’s tendency to freestyle exterior of the structured play name, he has the potential to be one of many prime rushers within the league, particularly if Seattle can run-block nicely once more. Charbonnet has proven good worth as a move protector along with his modest speeding and receiving stats as a rookie.
With a wholesome offseason beneath his belt, McIntosh couldn’t solely be the third-down receiving again, he has some expertise as a kick returner (however none as a punt returner) and will successfully exchange most of Dallas’ duties.
Koback and whomever the Seahawks add as UDFAs can be competing for the fourth spot on the roster. They’d be emergency backs, particular groups contributors, and as a rule gameday inactives.
What might make the Seahawks draft one other working again
McIntosh is the presumptive Dallas successor however he in all probability shouldn’t be thought of a roster lock. The previous Georgia star didn’t play an offensive snap in his rookie season and missed many of the yr with an harm suffered within the August mock sport. When he returned from IR he was restricted solely to particular groups. It’s very doubtless that he was behind on the playbook (and already behind DeeJay Dallas on the depth chart) to the purpose the place the teaching employees didn’t trouble including him into the lineup deep into the season.
Seattle hasn’t added any veteran free agent working backs, which can barely improve their probability of taking a flyer on one other cost-controlled rookie like Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo or Washington’s Dillon Johnson.
It’s not the tip of the world if the Seahawks use a sixth- or seventh-rounder on a working again. A lot of the discourse over Seattle’s expenditures has been their Spherical 1-2 use of picks. That shouldn’t be a problem this yr, and it’s one of many few positions the place the Seahawks can afford to skip the draft completely. Maybe in yr one of many post-Pete Carroll period, this will likely be one of many draft philosophy modifications.
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