Kenneth Walker III
Getty
Kenneth Walker III's departure has created a pair of holes that the Seahawks need to fill in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Seattle Seahawks have done well to retain several key pieces of their Super Bowl championship squad from 2025 early on this offseason. One guy who got away, though, was Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, as he signed a three-year, $43.05 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
Losing Walker hurts, especially with Zach Charbonnet recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered during the playoffs. Assuming Charbonnet has to miss the start of the 2026 campaign, Walker’s departure has created a pair of holes that Seattle has to work on addressing once the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft arrives.
Seahawks Have Work to Do in 2026 NFL Draft
While Walker continued to work in a timeshare with Charbonnet in the backfield in 2025, he managed to put together the most complete season of his career. Walker suited up in all 17 games, racking up 1,027 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. However, he saved his best game with Seattle for last, as he ran for 135 yards on 27 carries in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, while also catching a pair of passes for another 26 yards.
Now, Walker is gone, and his departure creates problems for the Seahawks’ rushing attack. Even when Charbonnet is healthy, he hasn’t always been effective as a lead rusher, as he profiles as more of a power option compared to Walker’s speed. Beyond that, Seattle has a sore spot in the interior of its offensive line with right guard Anthony Bradford.
Similar to Walker, Bradford played one of the best games of his career in the Super Bowl, but it’s not a stretch to say that Walker’s departure could put an even bigger target on him moving forward. With that in mind, Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report believes that Seattle needs to find a proper replacement for Walker in the draft, as well as some help along its interior offensive line.
“Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III escaped as a free agent, and the interior offensive line was a weak link to begin with,” Gagnon wrote. “That could be accentuated with less explosive talent in the backfield. Seattle might look to replace Walker and/or right guard Anthony Bradford early in the draft.”
Seahawks’ Super Bowl Hopes Could Depend on the 2026 NFL Draft
John Schneider
GettySeattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider addressed the status of his team’s backfield without Kenneth Walker.
The lack of a strong rushing attack could be a bigger problem than people think for the Seahawks. While Sam Darnold was sensational in his first season with the team, what really took Seattle to another level was the development of the run game as the year went on. When Darnold was struggling, the Seahawks knew that they could turn to Walker and Charbonnet to keep the offense afloat.
Beyond that, Seattle was the most reliant team on play-action passes in 2025, so without a strong rushing attack, that eliminates the damage those types of plays can cause. There’s no doubt that the Seahawks are going to be a championship threat in 2026, but their running game is what pushed them over the top last season. Without that, this team could be in trouble, which is why the draft looms so large later this month.