In an offseason full of franchise-altering moves, the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks have remained fairly quiet. The team failed to re-sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, along with key defensive contributors in Tariq Woolen and Boye Mafe.
As free agency continues, ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell made the case for Seattle to sign running back Brian Robinson to help fill a major void on the offense.
Bill Barnwell Urges Seahawks To Sign RB Brian Robinson
On Friday afternoon, two days following the official start of NFL free agency, Barnwell published an article outlining the best team fit for the top free agents remaining. He listed Robinson as the top available running back and detailed why the former Commander and 49er could land in Seattle.
He wrote: “The Seahawks need a replacement for Kenneth Walker III who can shoulder a meaningful workload, given that Zach Charbonnet is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season after tearing an ACL in the playoffs.
“The Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal this week, but Robinson would offer a more consistent rushing performance and ably serve as the lead back in the rotation while Charbonnet recuperates.”
As Barnwell noted, Walker has already found the exit, signing a three-year deal worth up to $45 million with the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, Charbonnet still has no set return date and may not regain the form he had before the ACL tear.
On the other hand, Wilson, their most recent signing, isn’t yet truly proven as a full-time back. This past season, he played second fiddle to Josh Jacobs. The former Packer carried the ball 125 times for 496 (4.0 yards per carry) yards and 3 touchdowns over 17 regular-season games. According to PFSN, he recorded a 52.6 RB Impact Score, ranking 39th among all runners.
In comparison, Robinson handled 92 attempts for 400 rushing yards (4.3 yards per carry) and recorded 2 touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers. Although Robinson’s production took a step back playing behind Christian McCaffrey, the 26-year-old has a solid body of work from his time in Washington.
Between 2023 and 2025, Robinson posted 72.4, 76.6, and 74.2 RB Impact scores, respectively, per PFSN’s metrics. Notably, Robinson found the end zone 9 total times in his sophomore campaign and on 8 occasions in his third season.
Again, having lost Walker and likely being without Charbonnet for the first portion of the year means Seattle will need to find playmakers in any shape or form.
Should they choose to sign Robinson, the Seahawks would be adding a physical, efficient back who can win on short yardage and in the red zone, helping the reigning champions set the tone in 2026.
