It is no secret that the Seattle Seahawks are looking to take a running back in this year’s NFL Draft after the departure of Kenneth Walker III. Many slate them as a team that could do that earlier than later especially with the lack of their draft picks. However, they may wish to wait on running back and select other positions of need in the first few rounds of the draft.
On a radio spot with 710 ESPN Seattle, NFL Draft analyst Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic cited Eli Heidenreich of Navy as an option for the Seahawks later in the draft.
Baumgardner said, “The biggest sleeper for me is Eli Heidenreich from Navy, who is actually Navy’s all-time leading receiver.”
Eli Heidenreich is the first player in Navy program history with 200+ Rec. Yds in a game! He also breaks the record for most career Rec. TD in Navy histoy with 14 👏
“The routes he runs out of the backfield are as good as you will see anywhere,” Baumgardner said. “I don’t know if he gets drafted, maybe late on Day 3. But I think we’ll hear from him at some point in the NFL.”
Heidenreich Offers a Unique Skillset
GettyEli Heidenreich should be available in the later rounds of the NFL Draft.
Heidenreich offers a diverse skillset for a potential NFL running back. At Navy, he played a hybrid role, lining up out wide and in the backfield.
In 2025, he had 1440 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns. Most of those yards came as a receiver, where he totaled 941 receiving yards and six touchdowns. In three seasons of play, he produced for 3151 yards from scrimmage and 23 total touchdowns.
Heidenreich also showed up at the combine, showcasing some excellent speed and athleticism. He had the fourth lowest 40 yard dash time for the draft class at 4.44 seconds. He also tied for third in the 10 yard split at 1.55 seconds and placed sixth in the vertical jump at 35.5 inches.
NFL Mock Draft Database projects Heidenreich to be taken in the seventh round. The Seattle Seahawks could use their sixth round selection on him, but it is possible they accrue more picks in this range if they trade down in the NFL draft. However, some comments have indicated that a trade down is unlikely.
Seattle Seahawks Current Draft Situation
GettyThe Seattle Seahawks currently have four draft picks for the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Seattle Seahawks currently have four draft selections in the NFL Draft. They have picks 32, 64, 96, and 188. In their top 30 visits, they’ve exclusively looked at running backs, defensive backs, and edge rushers. It seems clear who they are targeting in this upcoming draft class.
However, general manager John Schneider is not a stranger to surprises. Many moves are on the table including trading picks for proven NFL starters like Breece Hall and De’Von Achane.
While Heidenreich is not a traditional running back, perhaps he has a diverse enough skillset to peak the Seahawks interest if they do not make a significant investment in a running back. In fact, the whole running back conversation for Seattle could be a smokescreen as Schneider and head coach Mike MacDonald have stated many times they are happy with their running back room.
Seattle Seahawks Encouraged to Draft Late Round Running Back