The former Packers backup signed a one-year, $2.1 million deal with the Seahawks after Green Bay declined to tender him, giving Seattle a low-cost backfield option following Kenneth Walker’s departure
Emanuel Wilson is heading to Seattle. The running back agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $2.1 million with the Seahawks Today after the Green Bay Packers chose not to submit a restricted free agent tender, making him available to sign with any team when the new league year opened March 11.
Wilson, 26, went undrafted out of Division II Fort Valley State in Georgia in 2023 and spent his first three seasons in Green Bay working behind starters Aaron Jones and Josh Jacobs. He appeared in 41 games as a Packer, carrying the ball 242 times for 1,083 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 30 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. Over his final two seasons combined, he averaged 4.4 yards per carry across 228 carries.
His best individual performance came in Week 11 of last season, when he filled in for an injured Jacobs and finished with 125 scrimmage yards on 30 touches with two touchdowns.
Seattle needed an answer after Walker left for Kansas City
The signing addresses one of the Seahawks’ most pressing offseason needs. Kenneth Walker III, who was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LX, agreed to join the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year, $43.05 million deal when the negotiating window opened Monday. Walker’s departure left a significant void in a backfield that had leaned heavily on him throughout Seattle’s championship run.
Wilson arrives as a cost-efficient option at a position where the market has moved quickly and expensively. Several comparable backs signed for considerably more this week, making Wilson’s deal one of the more budget-friendly acquisitions at the position during this free agency period. The contract structure also gives Seattle flexibility in the draft, where the team could still target a running back without the pressure of filling an urgent need.
The Seahawks’ backfield situation is further complicated by injuries. Zach Charbonnet, who had served as the other half of Seattle’s two-back system alongside Walker in 2025, underwent knee surgery in February and is expected to miss significant time next season. George Holani, who stepped into the No. 2 role after Charbonnet went down in the divisional round of the playoffs, was retained by Seattle as an exclusive rights free agent.
Wilson’s profile fits what Seattle needs right now
Wilson is described by those who have evaluated his play as a north-south runner with above-average size, explosiveness and speed. His three seasons in Green Bay produced grades that reflected steady improvement before a down year in 2025, when a reduced role limited his opportunities. Moving to Seattle puts him in a position where he is likely to see significantly more carries than at any point in his NFL career.
The Seahawks have mostly prioritized retaining their own players this offseason, with Wilson representing only the second external free agent the team agreed to sign since the negotiating window opened. He joins former Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas II, who also agreed to a one-year deal with Seattle earlier Thursday.
For Green Bay, the decision not to tender Wilson created a need of its own. The Packers would have been required to offer him a one-year deal at $3.52 million to retain his rights. By declining, they saved the money but lost a reliable contributor. The team re-signed Chris Brooks to a two-year deal as a replacement option, though Brooks is considered more of a third-down specialist than a featured back. Third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd remains on the roster but has appeared in just one game over two seasons due to recurring hamstring injuries.
Wilson’s departure leaves Green Bay with questions at a position that had been one of its stronger units in recent years.