Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker is entering the final year of his contract, and one NFL analyst believes the team could trade him for whatever they can get. A second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Michigan State product began his career on a high note by recording 1,050 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 228 attempts. However, he’s never recaptured that magic, finishing last year with just 573 yards and seven touchdowns on 153 carries while playing in just 11 games. Now, one year away from reaching the open market, Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay thinks Seattle might move forward with their younger options.
It’s easy to see why Kay thinks this. Fellow second-round pick Zach Charbonnet played well in Walker’s absence last year and should handle starting duties. Behind him, Seattle has two interesting seventh-round picks in Kenny McIntosh and rookie Damien Martinez, a player the draft community thought would be a fourth- or fifth-round pick. While the Seahawks have impressive running back depth, several teams across the league should be interested in a Kenneth Walker trade.
The Dallas Cowboys will be near the top of any list about adding running back talent, as their depth chart is one of the worst in the league. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders both crashed and burned with their previous organizations, while rookie Jaydon Blue is a fifth-round pick who probably isn’t ready to start. Kenneth Walker would easily be the most talented running back in this backfield, and the trade target could thrive behind a better offensive line with a more consistent passing attack.
The Kansas City Chiefs seem content to roll with veterans Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt leading their backfield. While both players put up decent production last year, neither is anything special at this stage in their respective careers. Kenneth Walker is a superior talent, as his ability to be dangerous as both a runner and a receiver could make him a perfect fit for this offense. Andy Reid hasn’t had a true three-down threat since Hunt’s first stint with the team, and Walker could be that missing piece.
Chase Brown did a remarkable job as the leader of Cincinnati’s backfield last year, but he may not have multiple 280-touch seasons left in his tank. Going back to his college days, Brown has typically been more of a supporting player, and his body might not be able to handle this type of usage. A Kenneth Walker trade will ensure the Bengals have multiple starting-caliber running backs that can split work and remain healthy for a full 17-game season and a deep playoff run.
Alvin Kamara remains atop the New Orleans Saints depth chart, but he isn’t getting any younger. The Saints didn’t draft a running back until Devin Neal in the sixth round, which means they probably don’t have their running back of the future on the roster. 2025 will be a rebuilding year for the Saints, so they might as well trade a late-round pick for Kenneth Walker to see if he could be the future leader of this backfield.
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