Overall, Sam Darnold had a successful first year with the Seattle Seahawks, but his play over the back stretch is a big factor in the team needs to take the running back position seriously in the 2026 NFL Draft.

We’re talking picking a guy with either pick No. 32 or No. 64, as well. Sure, the Seahawks signed Emanuel Wilson in the offseason, but he’s not the final answer, by any means. The team has a lot of faith in George Holani, as well, but they can’t afford to be proven wrong there, either.

It’s easy to see why Sam Darnold’s second half of the 2026 season weighs heavily into the Seahawks’ draft plans at running back. Per Sports Info Solutions, from Weeks 1-9, Darnold threw 16 touchdowns to five interceptions. He yielded the second-best QB rating (116.0) and a league-best 9.4 adjusted net yards per attempt.

Darnold also produced the sixth-best EPA per attempt among all 32 qualifying quarterbacks with at least 146 attempts (0.2). He had one of his best games against the Washington Commanders in Week 9, throwing a season-high four touchdowns and recording second-best marks in both yards and passer rating.

Things drastically changed from Weeks 10-18, however.

ESPN’s Ben Solak also pointed out as much in a recent article and also stated Sam Darnold’s impact on the Seahawks’ draft plans:

“Running back is the big issue that must be addressed, as Sam Darnold’s shaky second half of 2025 was assuaged by Walker’s breakout behind the ascending offensive line. It’s a poor class for running backs, but Arkansas’ Mike Washington Jr. is the sort of explosive creator in a bowling-ball frame that GM John Schneider has historically coveted. He should be on the board at No. 64.”

Sure, six of Darnold’s nine interceptions came against the Rams, but he only threw two or more touchdowns in a single game three times over the final nine contests. Compare that to five games with at least two passing touchdowns over the first eight and it’s easy to see the impact of the drop off.

The biggest issue with Darnold’s downfall was his decision-making. He remained accurate throughout the year, but his decision-making suffered greatly after the first eight games.

And sure, Darnold threw zero interceptions during the entire postseason, but that’s when Kenneth Walker III was torching defenses. That’s why Walker III’s success was so vital to the Seahawks’ second Super Bowl. It allowed Darnold to be more of the complement to the offense than the driver.

In turn, he cut down on the turnovers and bad decisions, which led to more efficient play.

Knowing this is why the Seahawks have to find a good running back in the draft. Wilson, Holani, and a recovering Zach Charbonnet aren’t the answer.