A recent ESPN update has opened the door for a major backfield addition in Detroit. The Seattle Seahawks may not retain running back Kenneth Walker III, potentially making the star available. This news could give the Lions the powerful one-two punch they need.

On February 17, ESPN Analyst Adam Schefter revealed the Seahawks won't likely keep Walker. That's when Side Lion Report journalist Candace Pedraza proposed, "Walker is part of the one-two punch already existent in Seattle with himself and Zach Charbonnet, with Walker taking on a role more similar to that of Gibbs."

Well, Walker is in the final year of his rookie contract. It's set to expire in March. And while his salary cap was roughly $2.7 million, a franchise tag could see it rise to $14.5 million. And, under general manager John Schneider, they've done so twice: for kicker Olindo Mare and defensive end Frank Clark.

So it looks likely Walker could be on his way out. And if he lands in Detroit, the team will be in a solid spot.

Last season, Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and proved he can carry the load easily. With 29 career touchdowns, Walker has the ability to solve the red-zone struggles many offenses face.

Moreover, the Lions need a solid ground attack. They made up the bottom third of teams in terms of rushing yards, with 120.1 per game to end the season.

And even though the Lions have Jahmyr Gibbs and will likely extend him, they need a reliable star alongside him. Last season, in the final four games, Gibbs' performance dropped off, and the Lions lost those games.

Just as Walker took up the mantle at the Seahawks when Zach Charbonnet was injured, he could do so here. When Gibbs isn't performing as well, Walker could fill in his shoes.

But There's One Big Problem for the Team

If the Lions want to bring in a Super Bowl MVP and retain their current talent, they will need big contracts. And to free up the cap space, they need to address existing contracts.

Should the Lions decide, they can save nearly $40 million just by restructuring Jared Goff's contract alone! But if you add St. Brown, defensive tackle Alim McNeill and cornerback D.J. Reed to the mix, there's even more cap space on the table!

So far, the Seahawks haven't placed the franchise on Walker. If the Lions play their cards right, offer the right contract to Walker, he could be persuaded to come. What do you think?

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Written by

Shreya Mishra

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar