What If the Seahawks Swung a Trade for De'Von Achane? One Expert Thinks It's the Move

The Seahawks have a real problem at running back heading into the 2026 season, and it's not going to fix itself in the draft. Kenneth Walker III is gone, and Zach Charbonnet won't be ready to start the year as he recovers from an ACL tear suffered during that Super Bowl run. So here's the question: What if Seattle didn't wait around for Day 2 picks to develop the next guy? What if they went after an RB1 right now?

That's exactly what FanSided's Christopher Kline pitched on April 8. His idea: Send Miami a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick in exchange for De'Von Achane and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Sounds wild? Maybe. But here's why it might actually make sense.

Achane Is a Different Animal

Look at the numbers. Last season with the Dolphins, Achane earned a PFF grade of 89.2, ranking first among 55 qualified running backs. His rushing grade of 91.0 led the entire group. He carried the ball 238 times for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. On top of that, he forced 49 missed tackles and averaged 4.1 yards after contact per carry, which shows he can move piles and make space when traffic gets tight. As a receiver, he caught 67 of 85 targets for 488 yards and four touchdowns.

Kline called him "the most explosive runner in football right now, a blur between the tackles and a lightning bolt in the open field." At 24 years old and still in his prime, Achane can handle a three-down workload and catches the ball at a high rate. The guy is a complete back.

The Dolphins Might Be Ready to Listen

Here's the thing: Miami is in rebuild mode. The Dolphins believe in Malik Willis as their franchise quarterback, but the roster just isn't built to win right now. Achane didn't even report to the Dolphins' offseason workout program on April 7, which signals some tension. Kline's take is that Miami shouldn't pay Achane what he's worth on the open market, especially since he's entering the final year of his contract. Why hold onto an expensive back when you're rebuilding?

"It's far more palatable to extend Achane when he's in a proven winning context, with the infrastructure necessary to maximize his output," Kline wrote. Translation: Seattle has the pieces around him to make him elite, and extending him here makes way more sense than letting him walk in Miami.

But There's a Catch

NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio isn't so sure the Dolphins are moving Achane anytime soon. During a March 27 appearance on 104.3 WQAM, Florio said that when Miami says he's not available, they really mean no offer has been strong enough yet.

"General managers talk constantly, so they've surely seen offers for De'Von Achane, but none have been strong enough," Florio explained. "This is the time of year when offers circulate for many players who ultimately aren't traded."

So yeah, this pitch is intriguing on paper. But don't hold your breath just yet.

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