Chris Carson will stay in Seattle. The former seventh-round pick who beat the odds to become a long-term Seahawks starter agreed to terms on a second contract with the team Friday night.
The four-year veteran running back will sign a two-year deal worth $14.63MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Carson has worked as Seattle’s top running back for the past three seasons, and he will be expected to reprise that role in 2021. The Seahawks will use the increasingly popular void-year method to help with their cap, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, noting one void year will be added to the deal. The Seahawks entered Friday up against the cap.
Carson is believed to have received interest from the Dolphins, and the Seahawks extended an offer to Leonard Fournette. Nevertheless, the status quo in Seattle’s backfield will remain. The Seahawks lost Carlos Hyde to the Jaguars but still have Rashaad Penny attached to his rookie contract. This Carson development could point Fournette back to the Buccaneers, though it remains to be seen if there are any other known suitors for the former top-five pick.
Although the Seahawks’ initial investment in Carson doubled as a final-round flier, Carson will cash in after an injury-marred season. Prior to being limited in 2020, however, Carson eclipsed 1,100 yards in each of the previous two seasons. He totaled 16 rushing TDs from 2018-19, helping the Seahawks back to the playoffs and resurrect a ground game that had dipped in quality in between the Marshawn Lynch and Carson years.
Carson, Phillip Lindsay, Marlon Mack and Kenyan Drake are now off the market, with Aaron Jones — the top UFA running back coming into the week — choosing to avoid free agency and re-sign with the Packers. Of this group, Jones is the only player to have signed for more than two seasons or to have cleared $8MM per year. Carson, however, will receive a considerable raise from his rookie contract. Russell Wilson also endorsed the move (Twitter link).
If Rashaad Penny could stay healthy, the Seahawks will have an elite RB-duo this year.
Carson needs to stay healthy too.
I wonder if they had to get permission from Wilson to make this deal?
If Penny stays healthy I’ll eat my hat and yours too!
Is this John Schneider’s burner? Penny is mediocre even when healthy and a completely wasted 1st round pick. On par with Seattle’s usual top picks.
CC32 is baaaack! Thumping helmets and dishing out pain to an NFC linebacker near you. Honestly didn’t think we’d sign him- great news. Cowboy up
Good news!!!
Homer and Dallas still have real potential behind Carson and Penny as well
How often do you get a 7th rd pick who can be as productive as this guy? A lot of teams would love to have a player like Carson.
James Robinson was an UDFA, but your point is still solid. Carson is a beast!