The Seattle Seahawks chose not to franchise tag their top running back last season and ended up losing him in free agency. Kenneth Walker III was named the Super Bowl MVP in February and shortly thereafter joined the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the defending champs with big shoes to fill.
They have yet to fill those shoes effectively.
Zach Charbonnet is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season, and rookie first-round pick Jadarian Price is on IR with a chest injury. Injuries aside, the Seahawks don’t have the level of talent they did with Walker last season. But a name floating around the trade deadline conversation could fix Seattle’s run problems.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will find a new home, and the Seahawks are certainly a team that makes sense. Let’s look at the case for and against trading for Barkley.
Case for a trade for Barkley
The Seahawks aren’t playing like they hoped they would after their Super Bowl win in 2025. The team sits at .500 heading into Week 7, and a victory over the Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” provided some spark to their struggling offense. What will give them more of a spark is a stronger run game.
After trading Walker, their ground game was a shell of what it was. Quarterback Sam Darnold has struggled with interceptions, tied for second-most in the league (7) through Week 6. Without a strong run game, quarterbacks can be forced to throw the ball, feeling like they have limited options, and that pressure can lead to poor decision-making. If Darnold runs strong, the entire offense will feel the impact, and defenses will be forced to game-plan for a player who can be taken off the ground.
We saw what value the combination of wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Walker produced last season, carrying them all the way to a Lombardi Trophy. Adding Barkley could greatly increase the team’s playoff chances.
Adding Barkley would solve two problems with one player. The Seahawks will get the obvious RB1 they’ve been missing, and the Eagles will get future picks to start building with some youth.
Currently, the Seahawks’ run game ranks second worst in the EPA per rush. just seattle raised its offensive line with the addition of Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts. Now is a good time to add to that offensive unit.
No-trade case for Barkley
Barkley is a solid RB1, but he has some weaknesses. He is older, and he has a history of injuries. Of the over 29 people reading this, don’t sulk, you’re definitely not old, but for a running back, 29 is up there. Running backs typically have short careers, so 29 is older in the running world than most.
Now let’s get to the damage part. He has missed two games due to injury this season. He is not the one mostly injury-prone RB out there, but as he gets older, the chances of missing games will only increase.
Another reason not to trade Barkley is that the Seahawks already have a young core of running backs they can build around. They will soon bring back Charbonnet and Price and will see what their offense looks like with them.
Then we have Barkley’s price. CBS Sports’ own Carter Bahns told one version of this deal the Eagles could include receiving Emanuel Wilson, a 2027 third-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Even if the Seahawks don’t make a playoff run this year, the team will still be two years removed from a championship next season. The quarterback and head coach should be the same, and they could run again in 2027. Adding future draft picks allows them to add the pieces they need through the draft, rather than through aging returns.
Final verdict
This is a trade I can see happening. The Seahawks just lost their MVP running back and desperately need to find a replacement. While Barkley isn’t on Walker’s level and likely doesn’t have many years left in the NFL, he provides the stability needed and perhaps the chance at another Super Bowl appearance. They can be struck while the iron is hot.
The Seahawks’ run game is struggling, while in Kansas City, Walker leads the league in rushing yards. Through six weeks, Seattle had 643 total rushing yards (107.2 yards per game), and Walker beat them in total yards despite playing one fewer game, with 665 yards (113.0 per game). It wasn’t until the Chiefs played in Seattle that that changed. The numbers don’t lie and show just how big Walker’s loss has been. The Seahawks have a chance to correct the mistake of letting him walk out the door.
Now on to the Eagles side of things.
Their season isn’t over yet, but even if they win the NFC East, which looks as difficult as it is right now, it’s hard to imagine them making it past the first round of the playoffs. They may be willing to send Barkley elsewhere to load up on future picks or younger players.
Philly may even be looking for a new head coach soon, including Nick Sirianni with league coaches on the hot seat. Keeping future options could be part of working toward the rebuild that I think is coming sooner.