2026 NFL Free Agency: Sam Darnold’s Seattle Seahawks could fit in $9M San Francisco 49ers running back

Big shoes to fill in Seattle. In place of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranks San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. at No. 2 in the 2026 NFL free agent rankings. He pairs the Seahawks with Robinson, suggesting that even though Seattle signed Emanuel Wilson to a one-year deal last week, the Niners RB could offer a more “consistent rushing performance.” He could serve as a reliable lead running back in rotation while starter Zach Charbonnet recovers. Charbonnet may miss the start of the 2026 season as he sustained a torn ACL in his knee during the NFC Divisional Round against Robinson’s team, the 49ers, in January 2026. Surgery was performed in February. The recovery timeline for ACL tears is usually 8 to 12 months.So, with no Walker, no Charbonnet, and just Wilson, Mike Macdonald might need another efficient runner to thrill on the gridiron. That’s where the Niners RB comes into play. Barnwell reports that Robinson is a very traditional, efficient, and effective runner between tackles.Over the past three years, his yards per carry and success rate have increased. He ranks 11th out of the 34 backs with a success rate of 43.3% alongside teammate Christian McCaffrey. In the first three seasons, when he played for the Washington Commanders, he struggled with eight fumbles on 570 carries. But when he was traded to San Francisco in 2025, he wrote a different story to his NFL career. He went all season without fumbling, even after touching the ball only 100 times. He showed some newfound explosiveness [10.9% of his touches went for 10-plus rushing yards or 20-plus receiving yards]. Barnwell says the former Washington RB may not be a lead back in an offense but can be useful in the right situational role. The scenario of Seattle’s RB room looks empty. With no Walker, no Charbonnet, only Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and Kenny McIntosh, a powerhouse player like Robinson could prove beneficial. The 49ers back recorded 400 rushing yards from two touchdowns on 92 carries in his 2025 campaign. In his first three seasons, Robinson recorded 2,329 rushing yards. He entered San Francisco as a reliable backup for McCaffrey; he could do/be the same for Charbonnet in Seattle. Apart from Barnwell, YardBarker’s Colton Edwards also shared a prediction for Robinson. Seattle did sign Wilson, but they need a lead back. The 49ers running back’s rushing consistency fits as a rotational starter on a one-year deal during Charbonnet’s recovery.As per Spotrac’s calculated market value, the 26-year-old Alabama alum is projected to sign a one-year contract worth $3 million, which gives him an average annual income of $3 million. He has earned more than $9 million throughout his four-year career.Every analyst is predicting the same pick for Sam Darnold’s Seattle. However, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur reports that San Francisco may bring back their 2025 season running back. After a thrilling performance last season, they may want to keep him going. Anyhow, what remains to be seen is whether Kyle Shanahan’s franchise and Mike Macdonald’s team will pay heed to these two-sided predictions. While the running back waits for a decisive decision on his franchise future, some analysts see him as sensible elsewhere. For instance, Tom Brady's Raiders.The Athletic's Ted Nguyen predicts Robinson for Las Vegas, citing that, of all the backs left in the free agency market, the Niners back makes the most sense for head coach Klint Kubiak as RB2. Kubiak served as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. The coach led the team to a Super Bowl.