The Seahawks most likely will be looking for a starting running back in free agency, but who could they target?
As the days go by and we get closer to free agency, the Seattle Seahawks' chances of keeping Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker diminish.
Granted, this could be all part of the plan as the Seahawks don't appear to be willing to shell out the necessary money to keep Walker around.
We have seen varying figures on Walker's proposed contract in free agency.
Some have him getting $10 million APY, which is a decent contract; others think he could command somewhere near $14 million.
Either way, that appears to be too rich for Seattle.
As such, the franchise must now be looking at how to replace Walker, which looms as a tall order.
However, I do offer this.
Running back does appear to be a position that a team can go and get a bargain in free agency and turn that player into a good, quality starter. Just look at Javonte Williams and the Dallas Cowboys last season.
So, who could the Seahawks target?
Well, one player springs to mind, and Seattle wouldn't have to overpay to get him.
And that's Kenneth Gainwell from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Like Walker, Gainwell's future with his current team appears to have run its course, and he will be looking for a new home.
So why not the current NFL champs?
The biggest tick we can find in Seattle, going after Gainwell, is the price.
Spotrac.com has his market value set at just $3 million APY. That's a bargain.
But now to the on-field stuff.
We saw Gainwell with the Steelers last season be a key cog in the offense, and that was both as a runner and receiver.
Gainwell posted 537 yards and 5 TDs as a running back, while also hauling in 73 receptions for 486 yards and 3 TDs as a receiver.
That's not bad production considering how poor Pittsburgh's offense was in 2025.
He did play second-fiddle to Jaylen Warren, so Gainwell might be looking for an opportunity to start in 2026, and in Seattle, he would. At least initially.
Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the early portion of 2026 after suffering an ACL injury late in the season. That gives Gainwell some runway in the offseason to establish himself and to hit the 2026 season in form.
He's cheap, still productive, and Seattle has a need.
So why not kick the tires on Gainwell?