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Seahawks need a runner

Super Bowl champs likely to select a running back

I will be interested to see which running back the Seahawks take in the draft. I think it’s a safe assumption they’ll need to pick one early.

Ideally, Zach Charbonnet (pictured) will be operating at something close to 100 percent in the second half of the season, but I don’t think they can plan on that. After tearing his ACL in January, the expectation is that he’ll be sidelined at that beginning of the year, perhaps not getting back to top form until 2027.

Maybe they can get something out of George Holani. He was shockingly effective as their starter in the preseason last year, averaging 9.2 yards per carry in his two games. But he averaged only 3.3 on his 22 attempts in the real games – looks more like a backup than a candidate for much of a workload.

I am a fan of Emanuel Wilson. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his three seasons with the Packers, mostly as their No. 2 back. But there are some limitations to his game. The Packers, after all, weren’t really interested in re-signing him. Wilson wasn’t drafted back in 2023, playing his way onto the roster with a strong preseason.

So safe to assume the Seahawks will be adding a guy. Probably not in the first round, unless there’s a back they quietly love. The Seahawks, it should be pointed out, value the running back position more than most. Both Kenneth Walker and Charbonnet were second-round picks, and they selected Rashaad Penny late in the first round in 2018.

Mike Vorel, the Seattle Times writer, pointed out a few days ago that the Seahawks could be interested in Jonah Coleman, who played his college ball at nearby Washington. Coleman isn’t fast enough, but he’s a well-rounded back who operates like a bowling ball – 5-foot-8 and 220 pounds, and with quick feet. Coleman is very good in pass pro and also catches the ball well. Perhaps a lesser version of Cam Skattebo.

Probably Jadarian Price, Mike Washington or Emmett Johnson will be the second running back chosen. Price and Johnson are both smaller – 203-205 pounds. Washington weighs 223 and ran 3.33 at the combine, but he’s a taller, leaner back, perhaps without enough elusiveness.

Whichever back winds up in Seattle will have some opportunities, but expectations should be modest. Typically, there are a lot more misses than hits with speculative choices at the position.

In the last 10 years, 73 running backs have been chosen with third- and four-round picks. Only four of those players finished with top-20 numbers in their first season. Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt were top-5 backs (using PPR scoring), while Antonio Gibson and Bucky Irving cracked the top 15.

But only eight other backs made the top 30, and only six others finished with top-40 numbers. It’s hard.

Let’s see how it plays out, but I will guess this new Seattle back, whoever he may be, probably won’t be getting selected among the first 40 running backs in drafts this summer.

RUNNING BACKS SELECTED IN ROUNDS 3-4 (last 10 years)
YearPlayerPkRunRecTotTDPPRRk
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.67728826155414322.43
2017Kareem Hunt, K.C.861327455178211297.24
2020Antonio Gibson, Was.66795247104211206.214
2024Bucky Irving, T.B.125112239215148246.415
2019David Montgomery, Chi.7388918510747174.424
2023DeVon Achane, Mia.8480019799711192.725
2022Dameon Pierce, Hou.10793916511045170.425
2017Tarik Cohen, Chi.1193703537234154.428
2018Nyheim Hines, Ind.1043144257394160.928
2021Michael Carter, NYJ1076393259644156.429
2025Woody Marks, Hou.1167032089116151.129
2016Devontae Booker, Den.1366122658775148.729
2019Devin Singletary, Buff.747751949694149.933
2023Tyjae Spears, Ten.814533858383153.834
2017Jamaal Williams, G.B.1345562628186142.834
2022Rachaad White, T.B.914812907713145.135
2021Chuba Hubbard, Car.1266121747866139.636
2025Cam Skattebo, NYG1054102076177129.737
2024Ray Davis, Buff.1284421896316116.141
2022Brian Robinson, Was.98797608573112.743
2017Samaje Perine, Was.1146031827852112.543
2017Wayne Gallman, NYG1404761936691106.946
2018Royce Freeman, Den.71521725935103.346
2024Isaac Guerendo, S.F.129420152572496.247
2021Rhamondre Stevenson, N.E.1206061237295116.947
2023Roschon Johnson, Chi.1153522095612102.147
2016Kenneth Dixon, Balt.1343821625443102.447
2017Marlon Mack, Ind.1433582255834103.348
2020Zack Moss, Buff.86481955765101.649
2018Ito Smith, Atl.126315152467497.750
2024Braelon Allen, NYJ134334148482385.251
2019Tony Pollard, Dall.128455107562391.253
2025Bhayshul Tuten, Jac.10430779386790.653
2025Dylan Sampson, Cle.126175271446289.654
2020Joshua Kelley, LAC112354148502285.258
2019Alexander Mattison, Min.10246282544170.461
2016C.J. Prosise, Sea.90172208380161.067
2019Benny Snell, Pitt.12242623449259.967
2024Trey Benson, Ari.6629159350147.070
2023Kendre Miller, N.O.71156117273143.372
2018Chase Edmonds, Ari.134208103311263.172
2016Kenyan Drake, Mia.7317946225349.573
2020DeeJay Dallas, Sea.144108111219356.973
2017D'Onta Foreman, Hou.8932783410259.074
2019Justice Hill, Balt.11322570295249.577
2024Blake Corum, LAR8320758265033.582
2018Kalen Ballage, Mia.13119156247139.786
2023Tank Bigsby, Jac.881326138226.887
2024Jaylen Wright, Mia.1202498257028.791
2022Pierre Strong, N.E.12710042142127.294
2022Hassan Haskins, Ten.1319357150026.096
2020KeShawn Vaughn, T.B.7610934143125.398
2019Darrell Henderson, LAR7014737184022.498
2021Trey Sermon, S.F.8816726193128.399
2025Trevor Etienne, Car.1149413107013.7102
2020Anthony McFarland, Pitt.12411354167022.7102
2024Will Shipley, Phil.1278235117015.7104
2021Kene Nwangwu, Min.11961970223.0105
2018Mark Walton, Cin.112344175012.5109
2024Sione Vaki, Det.13214375108.1112
2017James Conner, Pitt.1051440144014.4113
2025Kaleb Johnson, Pitt.836997808.8113
2020Darrynton Evans, Ten.93542781116.1119
2022Tyrion Davis-Price, S.F.939909909.9123
2022Isaiah Spiller, LAC12341135408.4126
2024MarShawn Lloyd, G.B.881531802.8127
2022Zamir White, L.V.1227007007.0132
2016Tyler Ervin, Hou.1193182105.1140
2019Damien Harris, N.E.871201201.2142
2025Jarquez Hunter, LAR1170000.0---
2019Bryce Love, Was.1120000.0---
2017Donnel Pumphrey, Phil.1320000.0---
2017Joe Williams, S.F.1210000.0---

—Ian Allan

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