The 2025 NFL draft is less than two weeks away (for those taking note at home, the draft occurs from Thursday, April 24, through Saturday, April 26), which means we are two weeks away from knowing who will be joining the Seattle Seahawks. Roster changes will be made, but only (hopefully) for the good.
12s have already seen a lot of roster moves this offseason, though. The offense will look quite different than it has in many previous seasons. Wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are gone. So is three-year starting quarterback Geno Smith. According to Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano, Kenneth Walker III could also be moved.
He isn't the first to think so. The logic makes sense. While new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak wants to run the ball more, he could also use an RB1 who is more of a straight-ahead runner, such as Zach Charbonnet. Walker hesitates far too much at the line before making his move; he seems to think about it.
NFL analyst believes Seahawks could trade Kenneth Walker III around NFL draft
The difference is that Walker would likely have more explosive plays than Charbonnet, but he also will have more attempts where he loses yards. The question is whether an offensive coordinator wants a back who is high-reward but high-risk versus a back who is more consistent but not likely to break off as many 40-yard runs.
What is Walker's trade value, though? In fact, what is the value of any running back? The position has become devalued over the last couple of decades. Having a good one is fabulous, but they also have short shelf lives. Walker might be the most recent example. He missed two games in his first two seasons, but he missed six last year.
Charbonnet, albeit in far fewer starts and about 120 fewer carries, has missed just one game in his two-year career. That implies Seattle's current RB2 would be a more reliable starter than Walker. Sometimes, it isn't about how explosive a player is but their availability.
The point is that other teams will also know Walker's injury history and might not be willing to offer the Seahawks much in return. He certainly will not bring back a first-round choice, and if he is traded during the draft, that might not happen until Day 2. Walker was a second-round choice in 2022, and he has the potential to be quite good in Kubiak's system.
But if teams are only going to give Seattle a fourth-round pick back (or later), the trade should not be worth it. If it's a second-round pick (which it won't be), general manager John Schneider should say yes.
