The Seattle Seahawks’ commitment to running the ball played a huge role in their run to the second Super Bowl title in team history. But their running back position is suddenly in need of some serious help.
Seattle Seahawks Offseason Tracker: Free agents, draft picks and more
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, which leaves Seattle with a roster where its two most established running backs are players coming off of significant knee injuries.
Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss a good chunk of the 2026 season after suffering a torn ACL in the playoffs, while Kenny McIntosh is returning from the same injury, which happened last summer and made him miss all of last season.
Where does the loss of Walker leave the Seahawks?
“One, they should pray for a speedy recovery by Zach Charbonnet,” said Michael Bumpus on Monday’s edition of Bump and Stacy on Seattle Sports. “Then you gotta hope that Kenny McIntosh is able to fill a void. Not necessarily be the No. 1 guy, but do something to help this ball club.”
And then, Bumpus said, the Seahawks need to go to the same well that provided them each of Walker, Charbonnet and McIntosh.
“After that, I think you have to go to the draft,” he continued.
The CW Sports college football analyst, Seahawks Radio Network host and former NFL wide receiver has a couple of backs in mind, too.
“I’ve said this name before: Demond Claiborne out of Wake Forest – 907 yards, 10 touchdowns, average 5.1 (yards) per carry,” Bumpus said. “When I say this dude has a burst, he has a burst, man. His first three steps are quicker than most guys I’ve seen at that level.”
The other option is also out of the ACC.
“Next, you got J’Mari Taylor out of Virginia – 1,062 yards, 14 touchdowns, 4.8 per (carry). He’s more of a physical type of back. He can get downhill.”
Claiborne is ranked by Pro Football Focus as the No. 5 running back in the draft and is 133rd on the outlet’s big board, while Taylor is the No. 10 RB in the draft and 160th on the big board. The Seahawks enter the draft with just four picks to their name: No. 32 overall (first round), No. 64 (second round), No. 96 (third round) and No. 211 (sixth round).
NFL announces 33 compensatory picks for 2026 draft
Bumpus leaves open the possibility of Seattle signing a veteran running back in free agency, but the cupboard is already pretty bare with Walker, Tyler Allgeier (Arizona), Travis Etienne (New Orleans), Kenneth Gainwell (Tampa Bay) and Rico Dowdle (Pittsburgh) all agreeing with teams on Day 1 of the free agency negotiating period.
“In the meantime, you gotta wait for Kenny McIntosh. Kenny, get healthy, here’s your opportunity, here’s your chance. Alright, Zach Charbonnet, you get healthy. When you come back, you’re going to get the rock,” Bumpus said. “And then you gotta go to the draft and pick up one (running back), maybe even two depending on how many picks you get.”
Hear the full discussion in the Four Down Territory segment in the podcast at this link or in the player below. Catch Bump and Stacy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Brock Huard: The clear trend for Seahawks on Day 1 of free agency
• Report: Seahawks are re-signing WR/returner Rashid Shaheed
• Wyman and Bob react to Seahawks bringing Shaheed back
• CB Josh Jobe reportedly returns to Seahawks on three-year deal
• Brock and Salk react to Seattle Seahawks losing RB Kenneth Walker III