Holding four selections in the first two rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to the Russell Wilson trade one year earlier, the Seattle Seahawks had several significant needs to address on both sides of the football.
But with Kenneth Walker III, a second-round pick in the 2022 draft, emerging as one of the NFL's best young ball carriers, rushing for over 1,000 yards and finishing as the runner-up in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, running back wasn't considered a priority. However, with only two backs on the roster heading into the draft, general manager John Schneider opted for the best player available approach and selected UCLA standout Zach Charbonnet with the 52nd overall pick.
On day three of the draft, Schneider further reinforced the backfield by picking up Georgia running back Kenny McIntosh in the seventh round.
Despite the drafting of two players in the same position, Walker has embraced his new running mates with open arms. Having been mentored by veteran Rashaad Penny last season, Walker has taken on the role of a leader for the new-look backfield stable.
"I kind of feel how [Rashaad] Penny felt about me," Walker told reporters on Wednesday. "He always wanted to see me do well. Zach [Charbonnet] got here and K-Mac [Kenny McIntosh] got here, I want to see them do well and help them the best I can."
Walker has eagerly passed on the torch given to him by Penny, who signed with the Eagles in free agency. He is determined to share the knowledge gained from his brief NFL career with Charbonnet and McIntosh. Walker closely observes their performance on the practice field and provides advice whenever possible.
Particularly with McIntosh recovering from a knee injury sustained in Seattle's mock game on August 4, Walker has been impressed by Charbonnet's "mad," aggressive running style, which fires him up.
"He's great," Walker said of Charbonnet. "He came in and it seemed like he was on top of everything. He knows his plays, he knows what to do, he runs hard and that’s exciting. He gets me excited when I see him run. I'm excited for this season to see what he does."
With their contrasting running styles, Walker and Charbonnet should complement each other well as a one-two punch in the Seahawks' backfield. This duo will provide the type of balance that head coach Pete Carroll covets for his offense.
Walker, known for his explosive speed and acceleration, ranked 10th in the NFL as a rookie with 29 runs of 10 or more yards. He even showcased his big-play ability with a 74-yard touchdown run in a road win over the Chargers. According to Pro Football Focus, Walker tied for third in the league in designed runs that gained at least 15 yards, trailing only Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley.
Now entering his second year, Walker is confident that he will improve in every aspect of his game, which should strike fear into the hearts of opponents who struggled to contain him during his rookie season.
"I’m comfortable with everything now. I feel good," Walker remarked. "It’s a big difference between year one and year two. I know they said that a lot, but I didn’t believe it. I’m real comfortable now. I don’t have to think as much and it’s coming easier to me now."
