Kenneth Walker
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Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker.
The Carolina Panthers could possibly be a landing spot for Super Bowl 60 standout, Kenneth Walker III.
Free agency will start soon, and many are wondering where the star running back will land. Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports recently named the Panthers as a top potential landing spot for Walker.
“Last year, Carolina ranked 28th in explosive play rate. Bryce Young isn’t the type of player to rip off big gains through the air consistently, and if Hubbard’s down 2025 is a sign of things to come, Carolina needs another playmaker.” Pereles wrote.
“The Panthers graded as the NFL’s fourth-best run-blocking unit, per Pro Football Focus, and placing Walker in that environment could produce exciting results.”
Kenneth Walker’s 2025 Season
Kenneth Walker rushed 27 times for 135 yards against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60. He also caught two passes for 26 yards.
Walker rushed for 1,027 yards during the 2025 season. He scored five touchdowns while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Walker racked up a career-high 1,309 yards overall from scrimmage.
In five of his last six games, he gained 110 scrimmage yards including 164 total yards in a comeback overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16.
Though Walker could land somewhere else, he made it clear that he would want to stay in Seattle if it’s possible.
“I’ve been here four years, so you know I’ve gotten to know a lot of stuff about Seattle, and you know a lot of the city, and I feel like they feel good about me as well, so if it was my choice, though, I’d definitely stay.” Walker is quoted as saying in Pereles‘ article.
Carolina Panthers’ Current Running Back Room
In 2025, Rico Dowdle led the Panthers in rushing with 1,076 yards while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The running back will be an upcoming free agent and there are questions if he will return to Carolina.
“After emerging as one of the best free-agent signings midway through last season, Rico Dowdle saw his usage dwindle late in the year and said the role reduction would impact his free agency decision. If Dowdle leaves, the Panthers would be left with Chuba Hubbard, who posted a league-worst 0.7% explosive rushing rate last year.” Pereles wrote.
“Hubbard is a much better player than the number suggests — he had a 9.6% explosive rush rate in 2024 — but the offense badly needs juice.”
With Chubba Hubbard struggling, it’s hard to know if Hubbard will get the majority of the workload in 2026. Carolina could be more explosive if they sign Walker.
“Chuba Hubbard regressed after signing a four-year, $33.2 million extension during the 2024 season.” Moe Moton wrote in a Bleacher Report article. He finished the 2025 campaign with 511 rushing yards and a touchdown on a 3.8-yards-per-carry average. The 26-year-old isn’t an explosive playmaker in the short passing game, either. Carolina shouldn’t trust him to handle the majority of the rushing workload.”
Kenneth Walker III is just starting to reach his peak as a running back. He continues to get better and better as seasons go by. If he can stay healthy, he’d be a great asset to the Carolina Panthers.