The Running Back Target That Got Away: How Jacksonville Just Beat Seattle to a $10 Million Steal
The Seahawks swung and missed. While Seattle was eyeing Chris Rodriguez Jr. as a potential answer to their running back needs, the Jacksonville Jaguars swooped in and signed him to a two-year, $10 million deal. It stings, especially with Kenneth Walker gone and the front office still figuring out the backfield puzzle.
Seattle's Running Back Hunt Just Hit a Wall
Look, losing Kenneth Walker to Kansas City was always going to hurt. The guy landed a $43 million contract with the Chiefs, and yeah, good for him. But the Seahawks have been shopping around to replace him, and it is not going smoothly.
ESPN's Brady Henderson reported that Seattle was pursuing Chris Rodriguez Jr., but Jacksonville got there first with that $10 million package. Meanwhile, the Seahawks did make a move by signing Emanuel Wilson from Green Bay, though it is a one-year deal worth up to $2.1 million. Wilson is solid, but he is being used primarily in a reserve role across his NFL career, which tells you something about his ceiling.
The other wrinkle: Zach Charbonnet is still recovering from a season-ending ACL injury, so the depth chart is thinner than anyone wants it to be right now.
Schneider Is Not Panicking, But Should Fans Be?
During an interview with Seattle Sports on March 19, Seahawks GM John Schneider made it clear he is not losing sleep over the running back situation. "That's a position that you can find guys," he said, pointing to the roster depth they still have.
Schneider highlighted George Holani's contributions last season, praised Wilson's physical running style and pass-catching ability, and reminded everyone that Kenny McIntosh had a strong 2024 before suffering an awful injury. The message: patience, and trust the process.
But here is the thing: free agency is slowing down around the league, which means the talent pool is shrinking fast. If the Seahawks do not find their guy soon, they might have to look at the draft instead.
Could the Draft Be Plan B?
ESPN's Jordan Reid projected in a recent mock draft that Seattle could target Arkansas running back Mike Washington Jr. in the second round with the No. 64 overall pick. Reid described Washington as a physical runner with excellent balance, vision, and speed, plus he can catch out of the backfield. Sound familiar? That is basically what the Seahawks are missing with Walker gone.
The question now: does Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury's offense need a star running back, or can they scheme around it? Free agency is thinning out, and time is ticking. The Seahawks will have answers soon, one way or another.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.