The Seattle Seahawks surprised the masses by selecting Rashaad Penny in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Thankfully, Penny could be the instant fix.
If ever you were unsure of how valuable Marshawn Lynch was to the Seattle Seahawks, one must simply look at the state of the running back position without him. Seattle has tried and failed to develop players in his place, thus leaving the offense without an anchor.
Thus, when one considers how heavily the Seahawks emphasize the running game, it should come as no surprise that the organization reached for a workhorse at the 2018 NFL Draft.
Seattle has a superstar quarterback in Russell Wilson, but the offense has long been based on the ability to establish the run. Lynch was the anchor of the system when it prospered, while Wilson was enabled to pick his spots and either throw or scramble selectively.
In order to fill the void that Lynch left behind, the Seahawks executed what many believed was a reach of a selection for Rashaad Penny in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Rashaad Penny is going to Seattle! #SeahawksDraft pic.twitter.com/8Uh70rovxQ
— San Diego State Football (@AztecFB) April 27, 2018
Penny is one of the most accomplished runners in college football history, but some have questioned if he was worth a first-round selection.
For as fair of a concern as that may be, Penny is a shining example of how fit matters as much as ability. For the Seahawks, finding a player who can run between the tackles, bounce outside, and make plays out of the flat as a receiver was of critical importance.
With Penny at running back, Wilson will finally have a player who can bail him out as a runner or a checkdown option.
Penny proved as much by amassing 3,625 yards and 39 touchdowns from scrimmage between the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Beyond the numbers, Penny is a big play waiting to happen who blends power with his speed and agility. He sees lanes before they open, can hit a hole with explosiveness, and sheds arm tackles at virtual will with his strength and elusiveness.
Even if it turns out that Penny can’t shoulder the workload, the Seahawks acquired multiple draft picks in the move back to select him.
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In due time, Rashaad Penny should justify the leap of faith that the Seattle Seahawks took at the 2018 NFL Draft?