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EAST RUTHERFORD, Mike Macdonald is waiting for his two second-rounders to sign.
Kenneth Walker entered the league as a home-run hitter, and the Seattle Seahawks have been waiting for that full-season breakout ever since, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnell.
After a splashy rookie campaign, Walker has settled into more of a boom-or-bust profile, and the explosive plays that once defined his game have been harder to find. He ripped off three runs of 40 yards or more as a rookie, but over his next 532 carries across three seasons, he has managed just one such run. For a back whose style naturally produces some negative or “off schedule” plays, that lack of long gains looms large.
ESPN and Barnwell recently put together a list of players and coaches with the most to gain over the rest of the 2025 season, and Walker made the cut. The timing makes sense. The Seahawks are 9-3 and in the middle of the NFC playoff race, and Walker is staring at a critical moment in his career with contract decisions coming soon. A big December and January would hit both fronts at once.
It briefly looked like Walker was starting to separate in Seattle’s backfield, carving out a slightly larger role over Zach Charbonnet. But in last week’s blowout win over the Minnesota Vikings, the rotation slid back toward a true 50-50 split. Even in a game script that should have favored the more established starter, Walker didn’t quite turn it into a statement outing.
Barnwell framed the next month as a chance for Walker to change that storyline: hit on a long touchdown or two, stack together efficient games and force front offices around the league to view him as more than just another committee back. With running backs fighting for multi-year guarantees in a depressed market, that kind of late-season tape can be the difference between a prove-it deal and real security.
What a Late-Season Breakout Would Mean for Walker & Seahawks
For Seattle, the stakes go beyond one player. How Walker finishes 2025 will help determine how the franchise values the entire position.
If Walker finishes strong — mixing his usual tackle-breaking ability with more consistent gains on early downs and a couple of signature long touchdowns — it strengthens the argument for building the backfield around him and complementing with cheaper depth. That could justify a multi-year offer and give the Seahawks continuity at a physical position that’s hard to get right.
If the current pattern holds, though, the front office might view Walker more like the rest of the middle-class running back market. Najee Harris, to use an example that Barnwell offered, had to settle for a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason. That is the type of contract tier Walker is trying to avoid, and the easiest way to escape it is by looking undeniably like an impact starter when the games matter most.
The presence of Charbonnet complicates things too. If the coaching staff continues to see the two backs as interchangeable in usage and production, Seattle could decide to lean on the cheaper option and keep cycling through young backs instead of paying up. Walker’s best argument is simple: make it obvious on Sundays that the offense is more dangerous when the ball is in his hands.
Stats, Schedule & Context for Seahawks RB Room
Team record: Seahawks sit at 9-3, positioned firmly in the NFC playoff race.
Next opponent: Road game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14 before a tough closing slate.
Recent usage: Walker and Zach Charbonnet essentially split work in the Week 13 blowout of the Vikings, reinforcing the committee look.
Explosive plays: Walker had three 40+ yard runs as a rookie, but just one such run over his last 532 carries, per Barnwell’s breakdown.
Market comparison: Barnwell referenced Najee Harris’ one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Chargers as the kind of short-term contract many backs are landing. Walker is pushing for something bigger with his stretch-run performance.
If Walker can rediscover his early-career big-play gear while helping close out wins in December and into the postseason, he can change the conversation from “committee back” to “difference-maker.” For the Seahawks and their starting running back, the final few games of 2025 feel like a high-stakes audition — both for this playoff push and for whatever comes next.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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