De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Getty
(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks have a major question mark at running back with the departure of Kenneth Walker III, and Zach Charbonnet won’t be available to start the 2026 NFL season as he recovers from an ACL tear that he suffered during the team’s run to a Super Bowl.
As a result, with the 2026 NFL Draft nearing, many expect the Seahawks to do what they have done in recent years: Find a running back in Day 2 of the draft, as Walker and Charbonnet are prime examples of Seattle’s success in finding players who can run the ball.
Nonetheless, could the Seahawks use their draft picks in a potential trade to land an RB1-caliber player? FanSided’s Christopher Kline pitched a trade idea in which Seattle sends a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for De’Von Achane and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
“The Dolphins are in full-on rebuild mode, even if there’s clear internal belief in Malik Willis as a franchise-caliber quarterback,”Kline wrote in his article published on April 8. “This roster is just not built to contend, which makes trading De’Von Achane feel like the obvious next move — even if the front office is publicly bullish on keeping him.
“Achane is the most explosive runner in football right now, a blur between the tackles and a lightning bolt in the open field. He has utility as a pass-catcher, he can handle a three-down workload, and he’s still in his prime at 24. He’s also in the final year of his contract. The Dolphins, under no circumstances, should pay Achane what he’s probably worth on the open market. The running back position is too volatile.”
Seahawks Would Get a Big Upgrade With This Possible Trade
Moreover, after letting Walker walk as a free agent, Kline has a better running back than what they previously had if the Seahawks could swing a trade for Achane,who didn’t report to the Dolphins’ offseason workout program on April 7.
“It’s far more palatable to extend Achane when he’s in a proven winning context, with the infrastructure necessary to maximize his output,” Kline added.
“Seattle didn’t want to pay Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker at the end of the day, but Achane is even better. In return, the Dolphins get a couple of picks to burn (or trade) in a draft where selecting Willis’ successor could become prudent, depending on the results of next season.”
Last season with the Dolphins,Achane earned an overall PFF grade of 89.2, ranking first among 55 qualified running backs. His 91.0 rushing grade also led the group.
Furthermore, he carried the ball 238 times for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. Achane forced 49 missed tackles and averaged 4.1 yards after contact per carry, showing his effectiveness between the tackles. As a receiver, he caught 67 of 85 targets for 488 yards and four touchdowns.
NFL Insider Shares Update on De’Von Achane’s Future
Amid the speculation, NBC Sports NFL insider Mike Florio shared an update on the situation and gave his honest thoughts on the Dolphins, saying that Achane isn’t available.
“I think when the team says he’s not available, what they mean is they’re not going to trade him for any of the offers they’ve received,” Florio said during aMarch 27 appearance on 104.3 WQAM.
“This is the time of year when offers circulate for many players who ultimately aren’t traded. General managers talk constantly, so they’ve surely seen offers for De’Von Achane, but none have been strong enough. Based on what they’ve received so far, they’re not making a move.”