With running back Kenneth Walker entering the final year of his rookie contract, the Seattle Seahawks might have to replace him in 2026.
Walker has been a difference-maker when on the field, but playing through injuries has no doubt hurt his cause. He’s also coming off a 2024 season in which he missed six games due to injury and posted a career-low 3.7 yards per carry, so there’s zero guarantee the Seahawks will look to extend him.
Behind Walker, the Seahawks have Zach Charbonnet, who is signed through 2026, and a pair of seventh-round picks in 2023 selection Kenny McIntosh and 2025 selection Damien Martinez.
That group leaves Seattle without a sure starting solution for the long haul, assuming Walker moves on in free agency next year.
In order to remedy that need, Ian Cummings of Pro Football and Sports Network predicts the Seahawks will draft Walker’s replacement in Oregon running back Makhi Hughes with a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
“Kenneth Walker III has regressed since his rookie season, and Zach Charbonnet might not be an optimal replacement,” Cummings wrote. “As such, Makhi Hughes could be on the Seahawks’ radar in a similar range next April. Hughes is dynamic, well-leveraged, and has third-down value.”
Hughes exploded onto the scene over his two years with Tulane, where he rushed for 2,779 yards, caught 30 passes for 243 yards and totaled 24 touchdowns (22 rushing). His 1,401 rushing yards in 2024 ranked 10th among FBS backs.
Among Group of 5 backs since 2023, only one had more yards from scrimmage than Hughes’ 3,022, and that was Boise State superstar Ashton Jeanty, who went No. 6 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 draft.
Now, Hughes will try his hand at Oregon after transferring there in January, which will put him more in the spotlight and could seriously help his draft stock.
Hughes has an intriguing skill set. He’s a punishing runner who has no issues taking on contact, and he is explosive enough to break off game-changing plays. The jury is still out on his ability as a pass-catcher thanks to limited opportunities (30 catches over two years), but Hughes has definitely shown promise.
With a duo of Hughes and Charbonnet, the Seahawks would have a strong one-two punch. The former can handle the majority of the early-down duties as he develops as a pass-catcher, and Charbonnet can take on the passing-down work.
We’ll see if Hughes lasts until the second round after a season at Oregon, but he’ll definitely be on the Seahawks’ radar, no matter where his draft stock lands.
Read the full article here