> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Analysis: 3 Free Agent Running Backs Seahawks Could Target to Replace Ken Walker III - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/free-agent-running-backs-target-replace-ken-walker-iii/ - Published: 2026-03-05T07:29:21.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:53:35.000Z - Author: Nick Lee - Tags: Analysis, Tyler Allgeier, Brian Robinson, Rico Dowdle, NFL Free Agency, Seahawks It seems increasingly unlikely that Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III will be returning to Seattle. Reports came out Tuesday that the Seahawks will not use the franchise tag on Walker, making him set to be a free agent when the new league year begins later next week and free to sign with any team. As our own Corbin Smith reported, there are a few running backs in free agency who already appear to be [drawing interest](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/seattle-seahawks-odds-resigning-ken-walker-dwindle-breece-hall-franchise) from the Seahawks. Let’s explore three options for the Seahawks to possibly sign in free agency. Keep in mind, Zach Charbonnet is due back sometime next season, but it seems very unlikely he will be back before the second half of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered in January. The Seahawks need several backs to carry the load before he returns. ### Tyler Allgeier Before he came Bijan Robinson’s understudy, Allgeier was a breakout rookie in his own right. After breaking BYU’s single-season rushing record, Atlanta picked him in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. He made an immediate impact for the Falcons, rushing for over 1,000 yards with 210 carries as the feature back. After the Falcons drafted the all-world talent of Robinson, Allgeier took a back seat. His production has slipped in each of the last three seasons as the stardom of Robinson has grown in Atlanta. Now, Allgeier hits the open market, likely wanting a shot at a larger slice of the pie. If he were to sign in Seattle, he would be the feature back until Charbonnet can return later in the year. A huge plus for Allgeier is that in 676 career NFL carries, he has never fumbled even once. He is extremely reliable and his larger frame suggests he can handle a bell-cow type workload. Of course, Allgeier served something of the “Charbonnet” role in Atlanta. Signing him to pair with Charbonnet sometime next season might feel redundant. However, people forget just how solid the BYU product was in his rookie year when he had the full workload to himself. He has reached carry totals that Charbonnet hasn’t touched in his NFL career thus far. Allgeier likely wouldn’t break the bank, with annual average value projections hovering around $7 million per year. > Falcons HC Raheem Morris on Tyler Allgeier: > > "Tyler is the least-talked about superstar on our football team." [pic.twitter.com/uciCk9Z32d](https://t.co/uciCk9Z32d?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) [November 12, 2025](https://twitter.com/SleeperNFL/status/1988653165072511171?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Brian Robinson Jr. Robinson Jr. would be a strong fit for the Seahawks in 2026, particularly under Brian Fleury's offense. With Fleury wanting to emphasize a fast, violent, and aggressive run game rooted in outside-zone concepts (with Shanahan/49ers influences) while incorporating physical, downhill elements for short-yardage and red-zone situations, Robinson fits the bill. Robinson, now a pending unrestricted free agent after his 2025 stint with the 49ers (where he served as a reliable backup to Christian McCaffrey), brings a profile that complements what Fleury is building in Seattle. Like Allgeier, Robinson is likely wanting to play somewhere where he can be more of the “1A” back instead of “1B.” Seattle can offer that. At 6-1 and 225 pounds, Robinson is a true power back who runs with anger and contact balance. The Alabama product excels in this area as he's a hammer in short-yardage situations, capable of powering through arm tackles and stacking runs. He was the main back for the 2024 Washington Commanders that made it all the way to the NFC title game, so there’s history of him carrying a large workload. His market likely won’t be as robust as the other two on this list, perhaps hovering near $5 million per season. ### Rico Dowdle Only one back on this list is coming off of a 1,000-yard season in 2025\. In fact, Dowdle just notched his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, one with Dallas and most recently as part of a two-headed monster in Carolina. His solid 4.6 yards-per-carry would be most welcome in the Seattle backfield. At 6-0 and 215 pounds, he's built like a power back but moves with enough burst to complement Fleury's attack. Dowdle's PFF pass-blocking grades have been above average, a key for protecting Sam Darnold and allowing him to be a three-down back when needed. Dowdle likely would be the more expensive of the three on this list, approaching $7-8 million per season given his production the last two seasons.