Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Seattle Seahawks projected to replace Kenneth Walker III with No. 2 RB prospect in 2026 NFL draft
Nov 16, 2024; Annapolis, Maryland, USA; Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes (21) celebrates with offensive lineman Vincent Murphy (64) after scoring a touchdown against the Navy Midshipmen at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

If everything goes according to plan, the Seattle Seahawks should break their playoff drought and at least make it to the divisional round this coming postseason. If not, they could once again be stuck in that barren no man's land between missing out on the playoffs but not being bad enough to land a potential game-changing high pick in the following year's NFL draft.

That's exactly what happens to them according to a new projection from Pro Football Network. Their most-recent 2026 mock draft has Seattle picking at No. 12 overall in the first round. They use that pick on Colorado cornerback DJ McKinney, which would certainly be a choice as McKinney is only the 20th-ranked prospect at his position in this class.

With their next pick at No. 44 overall, the Seahawks take former Tulane running back Makhi Hughes, who would be a logical replacement for Kenneth Walker III should they decide to either trade him or not re-sign him before next March.

PFN on Seahawks-Makhi Hughes projection

"Kenneth Walker III has regressed since his rookie season, and Zach Charbonnet might not be an optimal replacement. As such, Makhi Hughes could be on the Seahawks’ radar in a similar range next April. Hughes is dynamic, well-leveraged, and has third-down value."

Hughes fits the Seattle prototype at the position, measuring in at 5-foot-11, 210 pounds. He is ranked second at running back in his class behind Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame.

Hughes played the last two seasons at Tulane, where he put up a total of 2,779 rushing yards on 523 attempts (5.3 yards per carry) and scored 22 touchdowns.

Hughes has since transferred to Oregon for the 2025 season, so if the Seahawks are interested they'll have a chance to see him play not far from their own backyard.

One element they'd want to follow is his development in pass protection - an area where Walker has struggled and they'll likely be looking to uprade if they do move on from him. While he's RB2 in the class, Hughes is only ranked the 25th best pass blocker at his position.


This article first appeared on Seattle Seahawks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Packers Could Replace Jaire Alexander With Player You Wouldn’t Believe
NFL

Packers Could Replace Jaire Alexander With Player You Wouldn’t Believe

The Green Bay Packers released star cornerback Jaire Alexander earlier this offseason, which frustrated the fan base because they did so without an obvious solution. Packers fans have been clamoring for the team to sign veteran and former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, but Green Bay does not appear all that interested in doing so. But you know who could represent a possible replacement for Alexander? Wide receiver Bo Melton. Yes, you read that right: wide receiver Bo Melton. Melton has started Packers training camp as a cornerback, which could ultimately lead to the 26-year-old assuming a major role in Green Bay’s secondary. Why the position switch? Well, Melton was struggling finding playing time in the Packers’ receiving corps as it was. Now, Green Bay added Matthew Golden and Savon Williams into the equation, so the chances of him actually getting on the field as a receiver in 2025 are slim to none. Melton logged just eight catches for 91 yards last season, and in 2024, he finished with 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown. The funny thing is, he actually has shown promise in very limited action, but there is simply no room for him. The Rutgers product seems to want to stay in Green Bay, hence his decision to flip to the other side of the ball. He knows he has no chance to play as a wide out. Why not utilize his athleticism as a cornerback? Of course, this does not necessarily mean that Melton will serve as Alexander’s primary replacement. In fact, it would be pretty concerning if the Packers choose not to bring in another corner between now and the start of the regular season. But hey, maybe Melton will be so impressive in camp that Green Bay will actually give him a look.

Biggest impact of Josh Naylor trade may still be to come
MLB

Biggest impact of Josh Naylor trade may still be to come

While the Seattle Mariners landed an impact bat on Thursday night, their trade for Josh Naylor has also likely impacted the entire upcoming MLB trade deadline. On Thursday, Seattle sent a pair of top pitching prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Naylor, with left-hander Brandyn Garcia (ranked as Seattle's 13th-best prospect by MLB.com) and right-hander Ashton Izzi (ranked as Seattle's 16th-best prospect by the same rankings) heading to the desert. Knowing what the Diamondbacks received in exchange for Naylor could well set the market for what is to come between now and the conclusion of the 2025 MLB trade deadline, set for 6 p.m. (Eastern) on July 31. The 28-year-old first baseman was ranked by The Athletic as the 17th-best trade candidate likely to be available, but ranked behind just one other first baseman (Baltimore's Ryan O'Hearn, who was slotted in at 16th). If Naylor brought in a pair of pitching prospects, including Garcia, who has appeared in two games this season for Seattle, the Diamondbacks could be salivating over what third baseman Eugenio Suarez and his 36 home runs could bring in return. All MLB teams who will be buying or selling at this year's trade deadline have had the first price bar set for them with the Naylor deal. Now it will be fascinating to see what comes next, especially knowing that Naylor will be a free agent at the end of this season. If Seattle gave up two pitching prospects for a player who could be a late-season rental only, imagine what the Minnesota Twins may be able to recoup for starting pitcher Joe Ryan (under team control through the 2027 season) or the Boston Red Sox might get back for outfielder Jarren Duran, who won't be a free agent until the 2029 campaign. While Naylor may not be the biggest move to come during this span before the trade deadline comes to a close, his deal could be the one that establishes selling prices for the trades that are to come. With so few MLB teams expected to be outright sellers, the price for available talent was expected to be high. We learned on Thursday night with the Naylor swap just how high those prices may go.

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy
Wrestling

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan leaves behind a complicated legacy

On Thursday, wrestling icon Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea died at the age of 71. "WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away," the company said in a statement. "One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s... WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans." Hogan was the first true superstar to emerge in the wrestling industry, capturing a casual audience worldwide and bringing new eyes to the sport. He was an unbelievable draw, both as a baby face and as a heel. From his time as an All-American hero to leading the New World Order and teaming with Randy Savage as part of the "Mega Powers," he has been a staple of the scene for decades. Who can forget his WrestleMania III moment, where he defied the laws of physics to body-slam a 520-pound Andre the Giant? Or, more recently, his match with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at WrestleMania 18? His last appearance on WWE RAW on Jan. 6 saw him booed throughout, highlighting the rocky legacy Hogan leaves behind. Hogan's universal popularity has plummeted in recent years, primarily due to a racism scandal that led to his removal from the Wrestling Hall of Fame, only to be reinstated in 2018. Nevertheless, the damage had been done. Hogan's outdated and unwelcome outlook on specific aspects of life derailed the final stanza of a legendary career. Still, there's no denying that without Hogan, the wrestling we know and love today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't be WWE on the world's largest streaming platform, or All Elite Wrestling, which is developing into one of the most successful challenger brands. Instead, there would be smaller, more localized promotions, all competing for a sliver of television time. Hogan popularized the sport by bridging the gap between the wrestling ring and Hollywood. During his time in the spotlight, Hogan appeared in movies such as "Rocky III," "No Holds Barred" and "Suburban Commando," all of which helped bring his larger-than-life persona to a new audience. It's no surprise, then, that The Rock, John Cena and Dave Bautista have all made similar jumps in recent years. Hogan leaves behind an everlasting imprint on the wrestling world. Unfortunately, it comes with multiple asterisks; however, that doesn't change what he achieved as the first global wrestling star.

'The measurables are there' Vikings DC Brian Flores praises promising UDFA with a profile that  can translate to on-field success
NFL

'The measurables are there' Vikings DC Brian Flores praises promising UDFA with a profile that can translate to on-field success

The Minnesota Vikings have made a living of finding UDFAs who make the roster. Since general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah took the job going into the 2022 offseason, the Vikings have kept eight UDFAs on the initial 53-man roster and this year looks to be no different. There are quite a few different UDFAs who have a chance to make the roster, especially on defense, but one has gotten a lot more attention than others across the board: Utah CB Zemaiah Vaughn. Zemaiah Vaughn has Brian Flores' attention Before the second training camp practice, defensive coordinator Brian Flores spoke with the media and was specifically asked about Vaughn and what excited him about the tall, lanky cornerback out of Utah. "Size. Obviously, you guys walk on the field and see a guy with six two long arms a corner can run. So, the measurables are there. We brought him in on a (top) 30 (visit). He was really very good, just from a mental standpoint, acumen standpoint, he works hard. You put all those things together, and it's something that you're excited to work with any work. He works at it, and really, just as a general message to our guys, it's really four things: be on time. That's number one. And then, you know, work hard in every area, whether it's in the weight room or, obviously, on the field, in the meeting rooms and walk throughs. "So work hard, be unselfish. Because, this is a game where there's 11 guys on the field and everybody relies on somebody else to do their job, for them to do their job, for us to be efficient as a defense. And the last thing I ask is for those guys to have fun. And that's the message that I gave to the team. I think specific to Zemaiah, and to any young player, if you can do those four things, then you put yourself in the best position and that's what we're trying to do with each one of these guys." Vaughn is a very intriguing player, especially for a defense that plays a lot of cover-3 like the Vikings do. He's got excellent straight-line speed and linear explosiveness to click-and-close on the football. That ability is very important to Flores' defense, and when you add in the 32" arms on the 6-2.5 frame. Yes, he only weighs 186 lbs, but the length and explosiveness is legit. Being a UDFA doesn't mean anything when it comes to making the roster, but hearing these words from Flores is a great start.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!