The Seattle Seahawks turned some heads when they chose to let Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III leave in free agency, but the criticism grew louder after his monster debut with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Seahawks chose not to re-sign Walker when he hit free agency following last season, and the Chiefs then signed him to a three-year contract worth up to $45 million, including $28.7 million fully guaranteed. Walker was expected to fill a big role with the Chiefs, and got off to a fast start in Monday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Seahawks’ Approach to Kenneth Walker Questioned
Walker had close to 200 yards from scrimmage in Monday’s game against the Denver Broncos, leading some to question the Seahawks not only for letting him walk in free agency, but also for forcing him to split carries during his time in Seattle.
Reporter Kev Mahserejian noted that Walker had more carries by halftime of Monday’s game than he did in several entire games with the Seahawks.
“Walker with 16 touches at halftime,” Mahserejian shared in a post on X. “He failed to reach that mark in 10 games last season with Seattle”
“This is what #Chiefs Kenneth Walker wanted. A lot of attempts and rushes. He wouldn’t get that with the #Seahawks,” wrote another.
Kenneth Walker’s Big Debut Leads Chiefs to Win
Walker finished Monday’s blowout win with 23 carries for 174 yards and a touchdown, adding three receptions for 18 yards and a receiving score. His ground game helped carry the Chiefs offense during some early struggles through the air, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes completing just 2 of his first 8 passes.
After the game, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said his team didn’t have a specific number of carries in mind for Walker, instead just feeding him the ball as he continued to chunk off big plays.
“He did a really nice job, and you never know going in how many times you’re going to give him the ball,” Reid said. “That’s not a calculated thing. You have to be making yards. For him to play the way he did I thought was spectacular.”
Walker’s biggest play of the night came on a 4th-and-1, when he bounced off a defender and ran for a 60-yard touchdown. The former Seahawks running back said after the game that he saw an opportunity and seized it.
“I knew they were going to crash in. When they crashed in, I bounced out,” Walker said, “and I was off to the races from there.”
Seahawks Taking Heat for Kenneth Walker Decision After Huge Chiefs Debut