With running back Kenneth Walker III on track to become a free agent next week, it’s quite possible the Super Bowl MVP’s price tag could soar beyond what the Seattle Seahawks are willing to pay to re-sign him.
The Seahawks’ risks with Kenneth Walker III set to be free agent
On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated senior NFL writer Albert Breer reported that Walker “will probably wind up getting somewhere between $12 million and $16 million per season.”
If the Seahawks don’t re-sign Walker, who could be an option to replace him in free agency?
During an appearance Tuesday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, NFL on CBS analyst Charles Davis mentioned Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr.
According to Breer, Etienne is set to be “the clear-cut No. 2” free agent running back behind Walker. And Etienne may be slightly cheaper, with Breer reporting that he “wouldn’t be surprised if Etienne pulls down $10 million per year.”
Travis Etienne goes 71 YARDS on the ground!
CARvsJAX on FOXhttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/tvsIl6cNNJ
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
Drafted by Jacksonville with the No. 25 overall pick in 2021, Etienne has topped 1,000 rushing yards in three of his four NFL seasons since missing his rookie year with a foot injury.
Under first-year head coach Liam Coen this past fall, Etienne totaled 1,399 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,107 yards and seven TDs at a clip of 4.3 yards per carry, while adding 36 catches for 292 yards and six TDs.
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Similar to Walker, Etienne is an explosive runner. Etienne tied for 12th in the NFL with 28 runs of 10-plus yards. That wasn’t far behind Walker, who ranked sixth with 33 runs of 10-plus yards.
And after recovering from the foot injury that sidelined his 2021 rookie campaign, Etienne has been highly durable, missing just two games over the past four seasons.
“Etienne is a full-time, three-down type of a back to me,” Davis said. “He’s that guy. Like, go back a couple of seasons (ago) … and then go ahead and look at what he did this year.
“When you utilize him fully in your offense and he is a focal point, … he’s a guy who can stay on the field and give you really good play.”
Listen to the full conversation with NFL on CBS analyst Charles Davis in the video at the top of this story. Tune into Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.
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