Seattle Seahawks GM discusses where they stand at RB
With the dust mostly settled from the initial waves of free agency, the biggest question on the Seattle Seahawks’ roster is at running back.
Two forces in Seahawks’ favor for trading back from pick No. 32
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, who rushed for a team-high 1,027 yards this past season, departed in free agency to sign a three-year, $43.05 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Backfield mate Zach Charbonnet, who ran for 730 yards and a team-high 12 touchdowns this past fall, is recovering from a torn ACL that could sideline him for much of the 2026 season.
At the moment, that seems to leave recent free agent addition Emanuel Wilson, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh as the top three running backs on Seattle’s depth chart.
Wilson, who rushed for 998 yards over the past two seasons as a backup for the Green Bay Packers, signed a one-year, $2.1 million deal with the Seahawks last week. Holani, who served as Walker’s backup in the postseason after Charbonnet got hurt, played well in limited action. McIntosh, meanwhile, ran for 172 yards on 31 carries for Seattle in 2024 before tearing his ACL in training camp last July.
Other running backs currently on the Seahawks’ offseason roster are Velus Jones Jr., Cam Akers and Jacardia Wright. Seattle also could target another running back in next month’s NFL Draft.
And of course, as general manager John Schneider pointed out during his conversation with Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursday, it’s only March. The 2026 season is still six and a half months away.
“That’s a position that you can find guys,” Schneider said when asked about the current state of the Seahawks’ running back room. “And 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 did a great job. We’re really excited about Emmanuel Wilson, who we got from Green Bay, a heavy runner with really nice feet.
“Just to kind of quell people, at this time of the year, I get it,” he added. “But like, (Charbonnet) is doing great. Kenny McIntosh, he had a great (2024) season, and that was just an awful injury for him. But I get it. And it’s a position that … we know where we’re at right now.”
More praise for Holani
During his conversation with Wyman and Bob last week, Schneider gave an unprompted shout-out to Holani for rising to the occasion as the team’s No. 2 running back in the postseason.
Holani, who went undrafted out of Boise State in 2024, had three catches for 27 yards in the NFC title game. He then keyed a field-goal drive in the Super Bowl with a 7-yard run and a 5-yard reception on back-to-back plays.
“The one thing that got overlooked in those last two games – and I was talking to (head coach) Mike Macdonald about this – George was awesome in the NFC Championship game and he was awesome in the Super Bowl,” Schneider told Wyman and Bob on March 12. “… Every time he goes in the game, he just performs.”
Schneider then heaped more praise on Holani after being asked about him during Thursday’s conversation with Wyman and Bob. That came after Holani signed his exclusive rights free agent tender with the Seahawks on Monday.
“George is one of those guys that just does everything really well,” Schneider said on Thursday. “He catches the ball, pass protection, doesn’t put the ball on the ground, really good instincts and he’s a true pro. Like, he’s just got great personality.”
The John Schneider Show airs on Wyman and Bob every Thursday at 4 p.m. leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft.
More on the Seattle Seahawks
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• Report: Rams drop rule change proposals aimed at Seahawks’ 2-point play
• Yates: 2 edge rushers Seattle Seahawks could target in draft
• Brock: The 3 objectives Seattle Seahawks are living by this offseason
• NFL Draft: A first-round running back option for Seattle Seahawks
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