NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
The Seattle Seahawks weren’t quite ready for a deep playoff run in 2024. The team has been knocking on the door the past few seasons but needs to turn a corner and do it quickly. With plenty of holes to fill in the coming months, should one of those gambles be used for the top RB in this year’s NFL Draft?
Ashton Jeanty was a key playmaker in college football this year. He’ll more than likely be the top RB off the board in the 2025 Draft in April. Coincidentally, the Seahawks need a playmaker at the running back position however, their late-season push to the playoffs might have derailed that option as teams like the Dallas Cowboys sit ahead of them in the draft order. Should the ‘Hawks trade up to get this one-of-a-kind playmaker?
Absolutely.
The Seahawks have been getting the best of QB Geno Smith. Despite his 15 interceptions, he threw for 4,300 yards and 21 TDs. At the WR position, they’ve got their playmakers as well as Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 1,130 yards receiving and DK Metcalf fell just short at 992 yards. Seattle isn’t likely to spend a first-round pick on a tight end, so why not trade up to address the RB position.
Yes, they need help along the offensive line as Smith took 50 sacks this season. However, that’s not only a position that can be addressed in free agency, it also can be fixed in the deeper rounds of the draft. There’s nothing against selecting a lineman in the second or third round. With the draft being top-heavy in the need for playmakers at WR and on defense, a team like the Chicago Bears might be the perfect phone call to make.
Chicago is looking to rebuild their team with a new head coach in charge. They also need an offensive lineman. Looking at most mock drafts, in most cases, each team before the Seahawks picks are picking WRs or defenders as key positions of need. The only other team outside of Seattle whose “experts” have them taking a lineman is Chicago. If the Seahawks want Jeanty, they’ll have to leapfrog the Dallas Cowboys to get there and Chicago would be the right move.
Without taking anything away from their current roster, let’s face it, the run game in Seattle struggled. Their two lead backs, Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, combined for 15 touchdowns in the run game, but you’d have to combine them both in yards as well if you wanted to eclipse the 1,000-yard rusher mark. Walker had 573 yards and Charbonnet 569 and while that equals production, it doesn’t necessarily scream “game changer” at the running back position. Having your WRs eat up chunks of yards only to punch it in in goal-line sets with a running back won’t always work in this league.
The Seattle Seahawks might not be desperate for a running back in the draft, but they definitely have a need for one. When you’re standing outside the Super Bowl window looking in, the chance to grab a playmaker should not be passed up.
