Presently, the Seattle Seahawks are heading into the 2020 campaign with Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer in their running backs room.
Carson and Penny are coming off major, season-ending surgeries, and while both are expected to be healthy before Week 1, it’s safe to say the team will want to add some insurance to the squad before then.
The NFL draft is certainly a way for Seattle to acquire a running back or two, with a handful of Seahawks-ey prospects available in the middle or later rounds.
However, the team could also turn to the free agent market to find running back depth – which could include another reunion with Marshawn Lynch if he wants to come back.
Another name the Seahawks could pursue is former Falcons running back Devonta Freeman.
Freeman, 28, was released after a stellar six-year career with Atlanta where he racked up 3,972 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns. He’s been relatively healthy outside of 2018, when he only appeared in two games, and he has a long history of success as a receiver out of the backfield – making him an appealing third-down back.
There’s little doubt Freeman would be a big upgrade over C.J. Prosise, but as always this will come down to price. Freeman was let go over $6.4 million dollars by Atlanta, and it’s safe to assume the Seahawks probably won’t pay more than about half that – and even that might be too much if they also want to pay Jadeveon Clowney.
Seattle might be better off pursuing a third-down back in the later rounds of the NFL draft, but if they do go the free agent route then Freeman would be a great fit, if the financials come together.
