Seahawks’ Desire to Boost Backfield Worst Kept Secret Heading Into 2026 NFL Draft
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Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) runs against the Southern California Trojans during the second quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images [/caption]
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.
On his weekly radio show on Seattle Sports 710, Schneider told hosts Bob Stelton and Dave Wyman, “Obviously, [Walker was] outstanding, and everybody's really excited for him. I mean, that's a great, great contract for a running back. But George [Holani] did a great job. We're really excited about Emanuel Wilson, who we got from Green Bay, a heavy runner with really nice feet.”
A little over a week later at the annual NFL meetings in Phoenix, Macdonald echoed similar sentiments about the cast of characters remaining after Walker’s departure, also adding the Charbonnet was making great progress and would be back at some point in the season.
"I'll tell you this, I think people are kind of sleeping on the guys we have a little bit," Macdonald remarked. "I mean, George Holani played great for us down the stretch. What was the number on Charb's touchdowns? I mean Zach's a great player. He's not going to miss the whole year. And then Kenny Mac [McIntosh] [will] be able to come back and then the guys we added. So, I'm excited about how that room goes from here.”
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.
Before lending words of support for Holani, Wilson, and McIntosh as a firm vote of confidence, Schneider acknowledged running back as “a position that you can find guys” and later stated that the Seahawks knew “where we’re at right now” rebuilding that group. Macdonald deferred to Schneider on that front, more than trusting in the reigning Executive of the Year to take the team to the “next level” if any opportunity presents itself to improve in the backfield through free agency, a trade, or the upcoming draft.
At this stage of the offseason, it doesn’t seem likely Schneider will sign another veteran off the free agent scrap heap, though Seattle did have a visit with former Pro Bowler Najee Harris last month. While a trade is never out of the question for Schneider, acquiring a game-changing talent such as Miami’s De’Von Achane would not only require trading significant draft capital, but handing out a big money contract that likely would be top-five money for the position as well.
Considering the Seahawks only have four draft picks for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft and Schneider wasn’t willing to pony up the money to re-sign Walker as an in-house free agent, it seems highly unlikely the franchise would pivot in that direction either.
Instead, drafting a successor for Walker remains the most obvious solution for Seattle, and Schneider, Macdonald, and the scouting department have done more than enough homework evaluating prospects at the position. As of this publication, the team has been linked to five running backs for official 30 or local visits, including projected top-100 picks in Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr., Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson, and Washington’s Jonah Coleman.
From that group, the 220-pound Coleman offers the most familiarity, as he starred just up the road at Husky Stadium for the past two years. While injuries hindered his overall production as a senior, he still rushed for 15 touchdowns, and as a junior, he finished fourth in the nation among qualified backs averaging 4.34 yards after contact per carry and added 38 rushes of 10-plus yards. Known for his soft hands out of the backfield, he brings a well-rounded skill set to the equation as a three-down option and has thrived in a pro-style offense playing for coach Jedd Fisch on Montlake.
Seizing his first opportunity to be a full-time starter for the Cornhuskers, the 202-pound Johnson erupted with 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns last season, ranking sixth in the country with 68 missed tackles forced and 36 runs of 10-plus yards. While he isn’t the most explosive back in this year’s draft class and demonstrated that with a 4.52 40-yard dash time in Indianapolis, he’s a glider with underrated power to break through tackle attempts and he can be a problem for opponents in the passing game, netting 46 receptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns last season.
One of the biggest enigmas in this year’s class, Washington has elite track speed at close to 230 pounds, presenting a rare blend of explosiveness and size. But while his speed shows up on film with 17 runs of 15-plus yards and an impressive 48% breakaway run rate that ranked sixth in the nation in 2025, he doesn’t always play with the physicality expected from a back of his build and fumbles have been a major problem for him at three different college stops. He may have the highest ceiling of any of the backs Seattle met with, but also comes in with arguably the biggest question marks as well.
In the past, Schneider has found success unearthing quality backs on Day 3 as well, headlined by 2017 seventh round pick Chris Carson, who ended up rushing for 1,000 yards twice before a neck injury unfortunately ended his career in Seattle prematurely. Keeping that in mind, two other visits from Toledo’s Chip Trayanum and Kennesaw State’s Coleman Bennett shouldn’t be ignored as potential supplementary targets if the team doesn’t pick a back in the first three rounds.
Once a highly decorated recruit for Arizona State, Trayanum spent two seasons as a backup with the Sun Devils, transferred to Ohio State and played two years for the Buckeyes, and then went to Lexington for one year with the Kentucky Wildcats before finally breaking out as a senior with the Rockets. The 227-pound back surprised with a 48% breakaway run rate last season and runs with an attitude behind his pads, averaging north of three yards per carry after contact for the entirety of his collegiate career. His constant moving in the transfer portal casts questions, but as a mid-Day 3 pick, he has plenty of upside to contribute in Seattle’s backfield early.
As for Bennett, he projects to be more of a priority undrafted free agent target, as he didn’t test well at his pro day with a 4.72 40-yard dash. However, in his lone season with the Owls, he displayed home run hitting ability as a runner and receiver with a slithery running style after the catch, including touchdown catches of 50 and 76-yards in 2025. He’s also a capable special teams player with eight tackles on kick/punt coverage in college, which would help his cause vying for a roster spot in an NFL training camp.
Waiting until the third day - particularly with the Seahawks only having one pick in the final four rounds currently - to draft a running back likely wouldn’t sit well with much of the fan base. But if the team’s reported list of visits serves as any indication, Schneider and company have kept close tabs on the second-tier of backs in this class behind projected top-10 pick Jeremiyah Love. The team also sent scouts and coaches to South Bend for Notre Dame’s pro day workout, likely taking a closer look at Love’s teammate Jadarian Price, who might be in the mix to be selected as early as pick No. 32 at the end of the first round.
Inside two weeks until the draft opens in Pittsburgh, Schneider and Macdonald may not see Seattle’s backfield situation as a major gaping hole, which will allow the team to let the board come to them and not have to force the issue drafting a running back. But at the same time, it’s hard to envision anyone on the current roster having close to the juice to compensate for Walker fleeing town, and if actions truly speak louder than words, the pre-draft process has more than confirmed that the team has sights on investing one of its higher picks at the position. Now, it simply feels like a matter of what round and which player gets the call.
