Kenneth Walker III entered the 2024 season with high expectations after showing sporadic bursts of talent in his first two years with the Seattle Seahawks. However, his third season was marked by ups and downs. There were moments when his aggressive, explosive style shined, but also moments when his pursuit of the home run resulted in unnecessary turnovers.
In a league that is increasingly unforgiving of running backs, Walker faced an important test: proving himself worthy of being a long-term centerpiece of Seattle’s offense — and, of course, earning a new contract.
2024 Production: Side effects of the ‘Boom or Bust’ style
Ken Walker finished the 2024 season with:
180 carries (29th)
573 rushing yards (32nd);
3.7 yards per attempt (40th)
46 receptions (12th)
299 yards (21st)
0 fumbles
7 rushing TDs (17th);
467 yards after contact (32nd);
Forced missed tackles: 61 (8th)
Run grade: 91.3 (3rd);
Walker’s numbers aren’t exactly eye-catching, but he still led the team in rushing yards and will be a key part of Klint Kubiak’s outside rushing and zone read system.
Among running backs with 150+ carries in 2024, Walker ranked:
20th in total yards
17th in yards per attempt
5th in runs of 20+ yards (9 total)
29th in runs of 0 or negative yards (49 attempts)
These stats clearly show the boom-or-bust pattern that defines his style.
Cuts, patience and decisions
Ken Walker is known for his ability to “bounce outside” — that is, cut outside the trenches looking for the edge. Although it is a powerful technique when there is weak edge containment or well-developed blocks, it requires quick reads and confidence. In 2024, Walker showed:
Technical strengths:
Explosive footwork: his cuts are quick and lethal when the line opens the second level.
Change of direction in limited space: one of the best in the NFL at making the first defender miss.
Vision on zone outside runs: when the zone block fits, he is lethal.
In 2024, he recorded 6 runs of more than 15 yards. His 0.42 avoided tackles per attempt last season were the most in PFF’s 19 years of statistics for all running backs with at least 50 carries. The next-most with any player with at least 150 carries in a season was 0.31, which is a tie that includes 2014 Marshawn Lynch and 2020 Nick Chubb.
Technical weaknesses:
Inconsistent patience: Often abandons the gap before it forms, trying too hard to make the big play.
Risky cutting decisions: In the inside zone or power zone, Walker often loses yards by improvising.
Difficulty identifying the best point of attack: He lacks consistency in post-snap reads.
One of Walker’s main technical problems continues to be his impatience following blocks. He often abandons the designated gap to try to cut outside, which has resulted in losses or minimal gains — especially on power and inside zone runs.
Fit with Klint Kubiak and John Benton’s Scheme: Ideal… in Theory
The offensive system brought by Klint Kubiak and John Benton in 2025 is heavily inspired by the Shanahan–McVay tree, with an emphasis on heavy formations, pre-snap motion and especially outside zone runs and play action. This type of offense relies on a running back with vertical explosion, quick reads, and the ability to attack wide areas before the defense closes the gaps.
Ken Walker, by nature, fits very well in outside zone concepts, where he can choose between cutting in front of the defensive end (stretch), waiting for the lateral opening, or making the famous “cutback” (cutting to the opposite side of the line’s movement). His short acceleration and lateral agility are valuable weapons in this system.
However, success in this scheme also requires tactical discipline, patience, and refined post-snap reading — areas in which Walker still fluctuates. He often abandons the play plan early, trying to create a big play outside the OL’s design, something that undermines the fluidity of Benton’s zone scheme, which values synchronization and quick vertical cuts over improvisation. In short, the fit is functional, but requires technical and mental refinement. Walker can be the explosive cog that this scheme seeks, as long as he learns to operate within the structure of the system and not against it.
Run types used and effectiveness
Outside Zone: 67 attempts, 348 yards, 5.2 yards per carry;
Inside Zone: 51 attempts, 189 yards, 3.7 yards per carry;
Duo: 28 attempts, 98 yards, 3.3 yards per carry;
Gap/Power: 35 attempts, 120 yards, 4.0 yards per carry;
Draw/Delay: 11 attempts, 67 yards, 6.1 yards per carry;
Pass Protection: Technique still under construction
Walker’s biggest area of development continues to be his pass protection. In 2024, he allowed 7 pressures, 3 hits and 4 hurries. Had a pass block grade of 29.7 (PFF) – the 20th worst among qualified RBs
Common technical errors:
Low hands on contact: allows rushers to come in strong and take control of the block.
Lack of anticipation in blitz: difficulty reading stunts and reverse gaps.
Inconsistent anchor: can’t “plant” his feet and resist bull rushes.
He has shown improvement in identifying the primary threat in 3rd-and-long situations, but his execution is still below ideal for a starting RB.
Boom or Bust
Walker’s trademark is his aggressive cuts and sudden changes of direction. While he forced 61 missed tackles (8th in the league) he also had 18 runs of less than -2 yards (6th worst).
These stats reinforce the risky nature of his style. When the blocking works, it creates explosive plays. But when the OL fails or the read is wrong, the losses are severe.
He is often able to turn what would be a loss of yards into something big. Here, in addition to preventing the fumble, he also gains some yards in the process. Magic.
But the reality is that, if you want to see these magic, you have to pay the price. Walker’s mentality is always to look for a way to escape, even if it is the most unorthodox option possible, or one that goes against the “rulebook” of an RB. At various times, instead of just putting his head down and accepting the short advance, he tries to cut to get something more.
Projected Extension in 2025: Did he do enough?
Ken Walker enters the last year of his contract in 2025, eligible for an extension. The big question: Has he produced enough to justify a significant second contract?
Comparison to recent RB contracts:
Tony Pollard (TEN): 3 years, $21M ($7M/year)
David Montgomery (DET): 2 years, $18.25M ($9.125M/year)
Josh Jacobs (GB): 4 years, $48M ($12M/year)
Walker should fetch between $7–8 million per year, but the Seahawks may balk at his inconsistency, especially in pass protection, injuries, and decision-making. A production-based incentive deal could be the way to go.
Conclusion: Valuable piece, but ceiling dependent on fit
Ken Walker III continues to be an impact player, capable of changing the game with a single run. But his injuries, coupled with reading decisions that compromise his efficiency, raise questions about his performance.
He’s an undeniable talent — quick, unpredictable and dangerous in the open field. But his 2024 season has reinforced both his strengths and his limitations. His constant pursuit of big plays, while exciting, has hurt his efficiency. If he wants to secure a future in Seattle (and a solid contract), he’ll need to refine his gap reading, improve his pass protection and rely more on play design than improvisation. The talent is there — he just needs to show that he can be trusted, too.
