NFL Draft 2022 tracker: Live blog and pick-by-pick analysis
The Seahawks used the 41st overall pick on Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III. This is the highest Seattle has selected a running back since drafting Rashaad Penny 27th overall in 2018. Walker is Seattle’s third selection of the 2022 draft, coming after left tackle Charles Cross (No. 9 overall) and edge rusher Boye Mafe (No. 40 overall).
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Big board ranking: Walker was the No. 40 overall prospect on the consensus big board and the second-ranked running back. He was Dane Brugler’s No. 1 running back and Brugler’s 35th overall prospect.
Introduction: Walker posted some rather impressive numbers at Michigan State. Last season he rushed for 1,636 yards while averaging 6.2 yards per tote with 18 rushing touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American and the Big Ten’s running back of the year. Beyond the raw numbers, Walker was a monster after contact. He led all draft-eligible running backs in total yards after contact with 1,168 and averaged 4.46 yards after contact per carry, which ranked third, according to Pro Football Focus. No draft-eligible running back forced more missed tackles last season than Walker (89).
How he fits: Those yards-after-contact numbers are important because it’s nearly impossible to thrive as a running back in Seattle’s system without being borderline elite at making defenders miss. One reason coach Pete Carroll fell in love with Chris Carson during the 2017 draft cycle was that Carson was so violent and sought out contact instead of trying to avoid it. And when Carson met defenders in the hole, the other guy often wound up on his butt. When Rashaad Penny morphed into the best back in football for the final month of the 2021 season, he generated a large portion of his yardage after contact. Walker has those same traits. His style is made for a Carroll-coached offense.
Second guess? There’s plenty of second-guessing to be done here. Yes, Seattle had a need at running back considering Penny’s injury history and Carson’s current neck injury. But there are greater positions of need on Seattle’s roster, and those positions are a bit harder to find in later rounds of the draft. Seattle needs another cornerback, a right tackle and a new center. Acquiring starting-caliber talent at those spots traditionally requires spending a Day 2 pick, at minimum. But starting-caliber running backs can be found on Day 3. In that context, Walker is a luxury pick for the Seahawks, even though he’s a very talented prospect. So, the second-guessing here is about positional value relative to the draft capital spent on acquiring a player.
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Rookie impact: Based on Seattle’s injury misfortune in recent seasons, I’d fully expect Walker to make several starts as a rookie. It’s unclear when Carson will be able to return from the neck injury that ended his 2021 season after just four games. Penny ended the 2021 season healthy, but he has an extensive, concerning injury history, as evidenced by the fact he didn’t even make his first start until his fourth NFL season, despite being a first-round pick. Penny’s availability is a legitimate concern.
Ideally, Seattle would like its entire running back room to remain healthy. But the reality is that injuries are almost guaranteed at the position. The role is just too violent to expect a workhouse running back to make it through a 17-game season and a postseason run year after year. Walker is going to get his touches in Year 1.
Depth-chart impact: Behind Penny and Carson, Seattle has DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer and Josh Johnson. Dallas was a fourth-round pick who hasn’t shown he’s capable of being an early-down rusher. Homer is on an expiring deal and is basically a third-down pass protector. Johnson has hardly played. Walker will be slotted behind Penny and Carson when everyone is healthy. If the injuries start to pile up, Walker could easily bump up to RB1.
Fast evaluation: The Walker selection has to be viewed in the context of positional value. It’s not as simple as applauding the Seahawks for taking a potentially good player. Even if Walker is a stud, taking him meant passing up on a cornerback, center, offensive tackle or even a quarterback. With that in mind, it’s hard to commend Seattle’s thought process here. They just have too many other pressing needs that could have been addressed with this pick.
(Photo: Adam Ruff / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
