Big Board: Ranking Top Running Back Targets for Seahawks in 2026 NFL Draft
With the deadline come and gone for teams to bring prospects into town for official visits, it’s full steam ahead for the Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the league heading towards the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
In the aftermath of winning Super Bowl LX MVP honors, Ken Walker III took advantage of his stock never being higher by signing a record-setting free agent contract for a running back with the Chiefs, leaving the Seahawks with major questions in the backfield. Aside from losing the speedy back, Zach Charbonnet underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in February and likely will miss at least the first two months of the 2026 season, meaning the team will have to weather the storm early without their top two rushers from their title run with limited starting experience on the current roster.
Which ball carriers stand out as the best of the best for Seattle to potentially choose from?
Official 30/Local Visits Tracker: Who Have Seahawks Met With Leading Up to 2026 NFL Draft?
With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror and free agency well underway, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 NFL teams are in the midst of scheduling and conducting their pre-draft top-30 visits.
In this process, each NFL team can bring in up to 30 players to their respective facilities for interviews and meetings with coaches as well as medical examinations and physicals. In addition, teams can also bring in local players for official visits, which do not count as one of the top-30 visits. While these on-site meetings are only part of the evaluation process leading up to the three-day event, they can play a critical role in determining where each player ends up on draft weekend.
Which players have already met with the Seahawks or are scheduled to come to town for top-30 visits and local visits before the 2026 NFL Draft?
Seahawks’ Desire to Boost Backfield Worst Kept Secret Heading Into 2026 NFL Draft
With a microphone in front of them, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Mike Macdonald haven’t been shy voicing their confidence in a running back room that has drawn plenty of questions from outside the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Even after letting Ken Walker III leave for a record-setting free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs and choosing not to make any external additions aside from taking a one-year flier on former Green Bay Packers backup Emmanuel Wilson, with the knowledge Zach Charbonnet likely will miss at least half of the 2026 season recovering from a torn ACL, both members of Seattle’s brain trust have suggested critics may be overlooking the talent still remaining on the roster.
But while Schneider and Macdonald may be higher on Holani, Wilson, and the Seahawks’ current stable of backs than those who aren’t in the building, reading deeper into their comments in recent weeks and reported pre-draft visits, they’re also clearly looking for upgrades to help offset the impact of Walker’s exit and Charbonnet’s injury.
Local Talent on Montlake Could Fit Multiple Needs for Seahawks in 2026 NFL Draft
When it comes to finding young talent to help bolster his football team, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider will look just about anywhere and location and/or level of competition aren’t deal breakers in the least bit, evidenced most recently by investing a first round pick in North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Dating back to 2017, Schneider has drafted Zabel as well as three players from the Division II ranks, including receivers David Moore and Dareke Young and tackle Michael Jerrell. Though none of those players remain with the Seahawks after Young signed with the Raiders earlier this month in free agency, all three of them remain on rosters in the league and two of them contributed for playoff teams in Seattle, indicating that those selections panned out quite nicely for the organization.
With that said, Schneider has wisely always kept strong tabs on local standouts, attending pro days at Washington and Washington State annually along with not-so-distant road trips to Oregon and Oregon State. In 16 years at the helm, he has drafted two former Huskies (Will Dissly in 2018, Ben Burr-Kirven in 2020) and a former Cougar (current starting right tackle Abraham Lucas in 2022) while also bringing plenty of undrafted talent into the mix from both programs, including Super Bowl champion Jermaine Kearse.
Now less than a month away from the 2026 NFL Draft, even with Seattle only holding four picks at the moment, the stars look to be aligning for Schneider to potentially add to that Evergreen State pipeline, specifically in regard to the Huskies on Montlake.
Analysis: Identifying Best Running Back Fits for Seahawks’ 2026 Draft Picks
Expectedly losing several key starters from their Super Bowl-winning squad in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks arguably took their greatest hit in the backfield with four-year starter Ken Walker III departing to join the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year deal.
Losing Walker alone would have stung, but the Seahawks also face the prospects of being without Zach Charbonnet deep into the 2026 season after he suffered a torn ACL in a playoff win over the 49ers in January, leaving them without their top two rushers from a year ago. In the aftermath of the Super Bowl MVP’s departure, general manager John Schneider waited out the free agent market before eventually signing former Packers backup Emanuel Wilson, pairing him with returning reserves George Holani and Kenny McIntosh as the top three backs on the depth chart.
Based on recent comments from Schneider, Seattle may be more comfortable with that trio than others outside of the organization, ready to give Holani or McIntosh a more extended run while thrusting Wilson into the mix with the potential to be more than just a complementary power back. But with Charbonnet only having one season left on his rookie deal, even with the team having just four picks currently, tabbing a potential long-term starter in April’s draft feels like a strong possibility, if not a guarantee.
Looking at this year’s latest crop of backs, which runners stand out as the best potential fits to succeed Walker and/or add juice to the Seahawks’ stable of backs with each of their four selections?
The Montlake Report: Several Washington Huskies Impress at NFL Scouting Combine
Taking their next steps towards being NFL players, Denzel Boston and several Washington Huskies teammates put their best foot forward auditioning at the annual combine in Indianapolis.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Aaron Coe dives into the performances from Boston, Ephesians Prysock, and other ex-Huskies who looked to bolster their draft stock this past week, discusses Detlef Schrempf's jersey retirement ceremony, and analyzes the continued struggles for the Huskies' men's basketball team heading towards the Big Ten tournament.
Super Bowl Champion Seahawks Bolster Secondary, Pass Rush in Pre-Combine Mock Draft
On the heels of a historic Super Bowl run that brought the Lombardi Trophy back to the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks won’t have too much time left to celebrate with the heat of the offseason now underway, including the upcoming 2026 NFL combine in Indianapolis.
Looking to fortify the roster for a title defense, Seahawks general manager John Schneider won’t have near as much capital to work with as he has over the past four drafts, as the team currently has only four selections. This includes three picks in the first three rounds at the very tail end of the round due to winning the Super Bowl and only one pick in the final four rounds, in large part due to trading a fourth and fifth-round pick to the Saints at the trade deadline in October to acquire receiver Rashid Shaheed.
Kicking off our annual draft coverage on Emerald City Spectrum, if the 2026 NFL Draft happened over the next three days without any trades, who would the Seahawks add to the mix with their four selections?
Washington Runs Away From Boise State at Final LA Bowl
The Washington Huskies pulled away from Boise State for a dominant 38-10 win at Saturday’s Bucked Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk. Which stars shined brightest in LA for UW?
What to Watch as Huskies Take on Boise State Saturday in the Final LA Bowl
The Washington Huskies will take on Boise State in Saturday’s Buck Up LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk. What’s on the line for UW, and who is expected to play in the final game of the 2025 season?
WATCH: Huskies Seeking Strong Finish in LA Bowl vs. Boise State
Looking for a ninth win before shifting focus back to recruiting, the Huskies will duke it out with a familiar cross-state foe in the LA Bowl. What should fans expect in UW’s final game of the season? And who could be playing/coaching in purple and gold for the last time?
Washington Huskies, Boise State Headed to LA Bowl, According to Report
According to a report, the Washington Huskies will face Boise State in the LA Bowl on Dec. 13. Who might or might not play in UW’s final game of the 2025 season?
Huskies Come Up Short Against Playoff-Bound Ducks
The Washington Huskies hung with the No. 6 Oregon Ducks before ultimately falling 26-14. What kept UW from coming through once again in a game against a big-time Big Ten program?
Big Ten Picks: Huskies Take Shot at Sinking Ducks’ CFP Plans
The Washington Huskies will try to knock Oregon out of the College Football Playoff on Saturday. What does UW need to do to have a chance against the No. 6 Ducks, and who else will win Big Ten games this week?
Huskies Comes up Roses in Pasadena, Crush UCLA 48-14
The Washington Huskies football team picked up a rare win at the Rose Bowl over UCLA in dominant fashion on Saturday. What led to UW crushing the Bruins 48-14?
Big Ten Picks: Washington Heads to Rose Bowl, Huskies’ House of Horrors
The Washington Huskies head to Pasadena to take on a struggling UCLA team at the Rose Bowl, where UW has struggled to find victories. Can the Huskies find a way to get their eighth win of the season?
Big Ten Picks: Humbled Huskies Look to Rebound Against Purdue
The Washington Huskies, humbled last week at Wisconsin, will try to regroup and beat a hapless Purdue team. How can UW avoid another letdown, and who else will win in the Big Ten this week?
Ranked Huskies Fall Flat During 13-10 Loss at Wisconsin
The Washington Huskies entered Saturday’s game against the Wisconsin Badgers with hopes of staying alive for a College Football Playoff Berth, but it all came crashing down in a 13-10 loss. What went wrong at Camp Randall?
WATCH: Huskies Finish Strong, Land Convincing 42-25 Win vs. No. 23 Fighting Illini
Creating separation after halftime amid rain and wind, Denzel Boston and the Huskies kept their playoff hopes alive by putting away No. 23 Illinois at Husky Stadium. How did they get it done at home and what does the victory against a ranked opponent mean moving forward?
Takeaways: Washington Huskies Knock Off No. 23 Illinois
The Washington Huskies finally got a signature win in 2025, beating No. 23 Illinois 42-25 on Saturday. Who stood out for UW, and what led to the big win over the Illini?
Big Ten Picks: Washington Huskies Face Illinois for Pivotal Conference Home Game
The Washington Huskies face No. 23 Illinois in a game that could prove to be a turning point for both teams this season. Which team will remain relevant, and who will pick up Big Ten wins this week?
ALL SEATTLE SPORTS, ALL THE TIME
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
