Kenneth Walker III helped Seattle capture its second Super Bowl title alongside earning MVP honors but the Seahawks chose not to keep him. Could they come to regret that decision?
The Seattle Seahawks are basking in the glory of a Super Bowl, while also trying to prepare to bring titles to the city. However, one core piece of the championship run won't be returning next year.
Kenneth Walker III was a workhouse for the Seahawks last season, culminating in an MVP-worthy performance in Super Bowl LX. Despite his contributions, Seattle chose to let Walker shop around in free agency.
The running back eventually decided to take his talents to the Kansas City Chiefs, a perennial Super Bowl threat in their own right. His departure is not only disappointing for fans but poses a legitimate problem for the team's roster.
Walker was the leading rusher for Seattle and shouldered much of the load in a running back room that was already not the deepest.
Zach Charbonnet was the partner to Walker much of the season and had a solid year with around 700 yards on the ground. But he went down with an injury late and is expected to spend most of this season recovering.
In the midst of questions about how they'll navigate the potential issue, Seattle is reportedly not panicking and scheming up a plan.
The Seahawks are expected to snag a running back in the upcoming NFL Draft. While it will help add depth back to the position, it is unlikely anyone Seattle picks up with the No. 32 overall pick and beyond will be able to match the output of Walker.
That's where the Seahawks secret weapon could come into play. ESPN's Brady Henderson reported that the team is especially high on George Holani. Holani stepped into the No. 2 role after the aforementioned injury to Charbonnet. The Seahawks aren't expecting him to become the leader in the back field but believe he can be a serious threat in tandem with another rusher.
There's still time for Seattle to continuing adding pieces, whether in the draft or through free agency. It seems unlikely they can find a true one-to-one replacement for Walker through either method.
But the strategy implemented so far by John Schneider appears to value contribution from several different faces instead of finding a powerhouse that will be responsible for the explosiveness offered by Walker.
It could be a bold strategy for a team with high expectations headed into next season. So, back to the question on if Seattle will second guess its choice to let the Super Bowl MVP head over to Kansas City? The answer is: It's still up in the air but it will be obvious, for better or worse, once the Seahawks get back on the field.