Kenneth Gainwell
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Pittsburgh Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell.
With NFL free agency approaching, it seems less and less likely that the Pittsburgh Steelers will re-sign running back Kenneth Gainwell.
Gainwell will be one of the Steelers’ many unrestricted free agents ready to hit the market if the team does not bring him back before March 11, the start of the new league year.
Last season, Gainwell signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh worth $1.79 million after spending four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Memphis.
After posting a career year with 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight total touchdowns, Gainwell is now being labeled an “under-the-radar” free agent, according to Ben Solak of ESPN.
“Pittsburgh brought in Gainwell on a one-year deal, and by the end of the season, he had become quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiver,” Solak wrote. “His 486 receiving yards ranked fifth among running backs. He also had a 47% success rate on rushing attempts, which ranked sixth among qualifying backs.”
Solak believes Gainwell could become a valuable addition for two NFC teams if he reaches the open market.
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Vikings, Seahawks Could Target Kenneth Gainwell
In what is shaping up to be one of the deeper running back free-agent classes in recent memory, Gainwell is expected to have multiple suitors.
Solak predicted Gainwell could end up signing what he described as a “quiet deal” that winds up having a major impact later in the 2026 season. He specifically pointed to the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks as potential landing spots.
“Gainwell seems like a great complement to Jordan Mason in Minnesota or Charbonnet in Seattle,” Solak wrote.
Both teams are facing potential changes at the running back position heading into the new season.
Minnesota has already announced plans to release veteran running back Aaron Jones at the start of the league year after two seasons with the team.
Jones rushed for 1,138 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games during the 2024 season but struggled with injuries last year. He missed five games and finished with just 548 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks could also be reshaping their backfield. Kenneth Walker III is set to hit free agency after leading Seattle in rushing with 1,027 yards, while Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL that caused him to miss the team’s final regular-season game and the entire postseason.
Free Agency Could Bring Kenneth Gainwell His Biggest Payday
For Gainwell, this offseason could represent his best opportunity yet to secure a meaningful contract.
His rookie deal with the Eagles was worth four years and $3.8 million beginning in 2021. After that contract expired, he signed last year’s one-year deal with Pittsburgh worth just under $2 million.
Now, coming off his most productive NFL season, Gainwell has positioned himself as an intriguing option for teams looking for a versatile running back who can contribute both on the ground and in the passing game.
According to Spotrac, Gainwell’s projected market value sits around $3 million annually on a two-year deal worth roughly $5.9 million.
That figure may not place him among the league’s highest-paid running backs, but it represents a significant step up from his previous contracts — and an opportunity for the 26-year-old to prove he can handle a larger role in the right system.