Seahawks Fortify RB Depth With UCLA's Zach Charbonnet: '3-Down Potential'

Keeping the California native on the west coast, the Seattle Seahawks added much-needed talent to their thin stable of running backs by using a second-round selection on UCLA standout Zach Charbonnet.

For the second time in as many years, the Seattle Seahawks invested an early round pick at the running back position, using their 52nd overall pick in the second round on bruising UCLA tailback Zach Charbonnet.

After beginning his college career as a highly-touted recruit at Michigan, Charbonnet transferred to UCLA after the COVID-shortened 2020 season and promptly emerged as one of the nation's best all-around backs. Thriving in coach Chip Kelly's offense back in his home state, he amassed more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage and 27 total touchdowns in two years with the Bruins, earning All-American honors as a senior in 2022.

"Charbonnet is a talented third-down option as both a blocker and pass-catcher," NFL.com's scouting report said. "He could be viewed as a Day 2 value with three-down potential."

Built with a thick lower body and tree trunk legs, the 214-pound Charbonnet lets his pads do the talking as a physical downhill back who finishes with authority and consistently drags the pile when defenders try to bring him to the ground. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked fourth in the nation among qualified backs averaging 4.17 yards per carry after contact and forced 53 missed tackles.

Away from serving as the Bruins battering ram and setting the tone as a runner, Charbonnet has made strides as a do-it-all back in the receiving department, giving him potential third down flexibility. After catching only 14 passes in two years at Michigan, he was featured more as a receiver the past two years, snagging 61 passes for 518 yards while averaging 8.6 yards per catch.

With his game predicated primarily on power and lowering the boom on opponents, Charbonnet isn't an overly elusive runner in space and won't make defenders miss by putting them on ice with juke moves or jump cuts. When he gets to the second level, though he possesses underrated juice with 4.53 speed, he likely won't hit many home runs in the NFL running away from corners and safeties.

If Charbonnet hopes to carve out a third down role early in his NFL career, he will have to make stark improvements in pass protection. While he generally does a good job carrying out his assignments in regard to identifying blitzers and sticking his head into the fight, he often steps up too deep towards the line of scrimmage and consequently, defenders have gotten past him more than desired.

Joining a Seahawks squad that loves to run the football, Charbonnet will enter a great situation vying for early playing time behind reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year runner up Ken Walker III and fourth-year back DeeJay Dallas. As a change-of-pace back who relishes contact and also offers soft hands out of the backfield, he should have a great opportunity to take on an expansive role right away.

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