The Seattle Seahawks have moved Kenneth Walker III down the depth chart, confirming what Pacific Northwest beat writers have been tracking since Week 14: Zach Charbonnet now leads the backfield rotation with 67% of first-team practice reps through organized activities. Walker, who carried the offense for 1,050 yards in 2023, handled 34% of snaps in the final six games of 2024 while Charbonnet logged 58%. The adjustment is official as of the team's internal spring roster, reviewed by coordinators last week.
Seattle's front office faces a $4.8M decision this spring. Walker enters the final year of his rookie contract, eligible for a fifth-year option worth roughly $8.2M guaranteed by May 3. The Seahawks have until that date to commit or begin shopping him to backfield-needy franchises. Philadelphia, Carolina, and the Los Angeles Rams have already placed calls, according to two league sources. Walker's agent met with Seattle's general manager John Schneider on April 9; the conversation lasted eleven minutes.
The shift reflects offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's preference for pass-catching versatility. Charbonnet logged 42 receptions in 2024 compared to Walker's 19, a gap that widened as Seattle's play-action rate dropped from 28% to 19% after the bye. Grubb, hired from Washington in January 2024, runs an outside-zone system that rewards spatial awareness over contact balance. Walker's 2.8 yards after contact ranked ninth among qualified backs, but his route depth averaged 4.1 yards compared to Charbonnet's 7.3, per Next Gen Stats. The offense scored 1.4 more points per drive with Charbonnet on the field in late-season divisional games.
This creates leverage for Seattle in the veteran running back trade market, which has moved nine backs worth $6M+ cap hits since 2022. Walker's remaining contract costs $1.2M in dead money if moved before June 1, making him an easy swap for teams needing a proven rusher without multi-year risk. The Rams, who lost Kyren Williams to free agency, fit cleanly: they hold pick 52 in this year's draft and need a back who can handle 220 carries. Carolina's new offensive coordinator, promoted from Baltimore, coached J.K. Dobbins through a similar transition and has pushed ownership to add a committee piece under $5M.
Seattle's broader roster calculus tilts toward liquidity. The team carries $18M in cap space but must extend defensive tackle Leonard Williams (deal expires 2026) and left tackle Charles Cross (2027). Schneider has historically avoided paying running backs on second contracts unless they return kicks or play special packages. Walker does neither. Charbonnet, meanwhile, costs $940K this season and $1.1M in 2026, fitting the profile of Seattle's run-game spending since Marshawn Lynch retired in 2016.
Watch for movement before the draft, April 24-26. If Seattle declines Walker's option by May 3 without trading him, expect a July camp release to avoid guaranteed salary triggers. Charbonnet's agent is already negotiating an early extension worth roughly $6M annually through 2028, per a source close to those talks. The Seahawks promoted assistant running backs coach Chad Morton to a full coordinator title last Thursday, a signal the transition is complete. Walker's locker was moved from the first-row offensive section to the second row during spring cleaning. Morton coached Charbonnet at UCLA.
The last Seattle running back to lose the starting job mid-contract was Chris Carson in 2021, who landed in Indianapolis for a conditional sixth-rounder. Walker is younger and healthier, which should fetch a fourth or better if the Rams stay interested. Philadelphia has $22M in space and just drafted a tackle; a veteran runner under $5M solves their depth problem without touching 2026 flexibility. Schneider's phone has been busy.
The takeaway
Seattle's depth chart shuffle and Charbonnet's **$6M** extension talks confirm Walker trade discussions active before May 3 option deadline.
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