The 3-Year, $43 Million Kenneth Walker III Deal That Still Haunts Every Seattle Fan

Man, remember that gut punch from last offseason? The one where we watched a reigning Super Bowl MVP running back, Kenneth Walker III, head out of the Emerald City for Kansas City? Even though it's early in our season here in the PNW, word is already filtering back about how absolutely electric he's looking with his new squad. Chiefs coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes are practically gushing about what Walker is bringing to their offense, and honestly? It's a tough pill for the 12s to swallow when you know exactly what we had here.

What Andy Reid Saw Early

Back when the Chiefs finalized that big offseason move, signing Walker to a three-year, $43 million deal, there was immediate chatter. And by June, after watching him during their offseason program, Coach Reid was already convinced they got their money's worth. He said the way Walker approaches practice is "exactly what the Chiefs were hoping for." Reid wasn't holding back, calling him a player with "a ton of energy" and someone who clearly "loves to play the game." He wants to learn their system, gets that "it takes work to be good, and he's willing to do that." Oh, and Reid added, "Stronger than an ox. I mean, he’s put together." Sounds about right, doesn't it? We saw that tenacity and power every single Sunday.

Mahomes Sees a Total Pro

It's not just Reid noticing either. Patrick Mahomes, the guy tossing him the ball, and other offensive players have all commented on how eager Walker is to get involved in every single part of the Chiefs' offense. Mahomes basically summed it up: "You can tell he truly cares about football, he cares about his teammates." Imagine that, a guy who's not just focused on his own reps. Mahomes added that if Walker "isn't in the play, he's helping the guys on the sideline and he's trying to learn and is asking me questions." The Chiefs made a massive investment in him, and while Reid and Mahomes know it takes more than just unpadded practices for that $43 million to truly pay off, they both think he's off to a strong start. Yeah, that's what we figured. But hey, the season rolls on for us. Our Seahawks, under Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury, are grinding every single week, and we've got Sam Darnold slinging it to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp. Over at T-Mobile Park, Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh are ready to tear it up for the Mariners. We gotta focus on our guys, on what's ahead for the Emerald City. Next up for the Hawks? A chance to show what this new era is all about. Let's get loud, 12s!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.