The Seahawks' Running Back Roulette: A Tale of Opportunity and Uncertainty
The NFL preseason is a time of experimentation, where teams tinker with rosters and players fight for their football lives. This week, the Seattle Seahawks added another layer to their running back drama by working out Anthony Hankerson, a former Oregon State standout. On the surface, it’s a routine transaction—a team shorthanded at a position bringing in a player for a look. But if you take a step back and think about it, this move is far more intriguing than it seems.
Hankerson’s Journey: A Story of Resilience and What-Ifs
Personally, I think Hankerson’s story is one of those classic NFL narratives that flies under the radar. Here’s a player who transferred to Oregon State in 2024, became the first Beavers running back since Jacquizz Rodgers to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and yet still went undrafted. What makes this particularly fascinating is how his path intersects with the Seahawks’ history. Hankerson essentially replaced Damien Martinez at Oregon State, a player Seattle drafted but who now plays for the Packers. It’s almost poetic—or ironic, depending on how you look at it—that Hankerson is now knocking on the Seahawks’ door.
What many people don’t realize is that Hankerson’s journey reflects a broader trend in college football: the transfer portal’s impact on player trajectories. He started at Colorado, moved to Oregon State, and now finds himself in the NFL’s revolving door of preseason tryouts. This raises a deeper question: How much does a player’s college narrative really matter when it comes to the pros? In Hankerson’s case, his production was undeniable, yet he’s still fighting for a roster spot.
The Seahawks’ Running Back Room: A Mess of Injuries and Questions
One thing that immediately stands out is the Seahawks’ current running back situation—it’s a disaster. Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson, and Jacardia Wright are all sidelined with injuries, leaving the team scrambling for bodies. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a glaring vulnerability heading into the regular season. From my perspective, this is where Hankerson’s opportunity lies. He’s not being brought in to compete for a starting role—let’s be real, that ship has sailed—but to provide depth and, if he’s lucky, earn a practice squad spot.
What this really suggests is that Seattle’s running back room is far from settled. Even if the injured players return, the lack of proven talent behind Kenneth Walker III is concerning. If you ask me, the Seahawks are one injury away from a full-blown crisis at the position. Hankerson’s tryout is less about him and more about the team’s desperation to patch holes.
The Preseason Grind: Where Dreams Go to Die (or Survive)
A detail that I find especially interesting is how the preseason has become a survival game for players like Hankerson. He’s not alone in this—dozens of undrafted free agents and camp bodies are fighting for scraps of attention. The NFL’s transaction wire is a brutal reminder of how fleeting these opportunities can be. Hankerson was let go by the Dolphins, who signed him as an undrafted free agent, and now he’s auditioning for the Seahawks. It’s a grind, plain and simple.
But here’s the thing: the preseason is also where careers can pivot. Look at players like Tony Romo or Kurt Warner, who went from afterthoughts to starters. Hankerson’s chances are slim, but not impossible. What makes his situation unique is his college pedigree—he’s not just another undrafted guy; he’s a proven producer at the collegiate level. If he can flash even a fraction of that ability, he might just stick around.
The Bigger Picture: What Does This Mean for the Seahawks?
If you take a step back and think about it, the Seahawks’ decision to work out Hankerson is a symptom of a larger issue. Teams across the league are dealing with injuries and roster uncertainties, but Seattle’s running back situation feels particularly precarious. In my opinion, this is a position they’ll need to address sooner rather than later, whether through free agency, trades, or the draft.
What this really suggests is that the Seahawks’ front office might be flying by the seat of their pants. Sure, they’ve got stars like Walker and Geno Smith, but the depth chart is thin in critical areas. Hankerson’s tryout is a band-aid, not a solution. If I were a Seahawks fan, I’d be keeping a close eye on how they address this weakness before the season starts.
Final Thoughts: A Preseason Tryout with Broader Implications
At the end of the day, Anthony Hankerson’s workout with the Seahawks is more than just a footnote in the preseason news cycle. It’s a story about opportunity, resilience, and the harsh realities of the NFL. Personally, I think he’s a long shot to make the roster, but his presence highlights the Seahawks’ vulnerabilities and the league’s relentless churn of talent.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how it connects to larger trends—the transfer portal’s impact on college football, the NFL’s injury epidemic, and the precarious nature of roster spots. If you ask me, Hankerson’s tryout is a microcosm of the league’s broader dynamics. It’s not just about one player or one team; it’s about the system itself. And that, in my opinion, is what makes this story worth watching.
