With Seattle Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny set to hit free agency in 2022, what are his potential landing spots this offseason? Could Penny’s strong performances in the 2021 season earn him a starting role in 2022 and beyond? Let’s take a look at the potential value Penny might be able to command and which teams might be in play for the 2018 first-round selection.
Rashaad Penny landing spots
It has not been an easy stretch for Penny since he was drafted 27th overall in 2018. Heading into Week 17 of 2021, the Seahawks RB has managed to play just 35 games in four seasons, with 232 rush attempts and 28 targets in his career. When he has been on the field, he has been reasonably effective. On those 253 touches, he has 1,403 yards and 9 touchdowns. That includes 1,212 rushing yards at 5.2 yards per attempt.
The strong end to the season will make things interesting for Penny this offseason. In Weeks 14 and 16, he has gone for over 100 yards in each game, with a total of 3 touchdowns. In total, over the past four weeks entering Week 17, Penny has 346 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on just 54 rush attempts. His incredible efficiency will remind teams around the NFL why he was valued so highly coming out of college.
This surge in performance makes this offseason fascinating for Penny. The Seahawks realistically cannot offer a long-term extension given his injury woes. However, they will not want to see him go elsewhere, especially after his strong finish. Therefore, it would not be a surprise to see Penny at least test free agency. Nonetheless, it would be a shock to see any team commit anything significant to him this offseason.
With a potential contract of one or two years at around $1.5 to $3 million a season most likely, what are the potential landing spots for Penny this offseason?
The Miami Dolphins need a solution at RB in 2022
What the Dolphins will do at RB is somewhat of a mystery at this point. The expectation last offseason was that they would chase a running back, but they never really did. Still, after cycling through backs this season, maybe they will commit to a more workhorse-ish back. If that is the case, a player like Melvin Gordon or James Conner might make more sense than Penny.
Cap space is not a major issue for the Dolphins, but they do have needs all over their roster. Therefore, they may decide to go down the cheaper option at RB. The potential beauty of Penny is that he brings the upside of a former first-round selection with a budget price. The Dolphins will be wary of his injury history after he struggled last year, but the upside here is savory.
Penny could alleviate the Atlanta Falcons’ RB concerns
There are a lot of chips to fall in Atlanta regarding the future of Cordarrelle Patterson. If the Falcons decide to keep him around, it reduces the need to attack the RB position. However, with Mike Davis having proven ineffective, Atlanta might dip into the RB market even if Patterson stays.
Cap space is somewhat tighter for the Falcons. Regardless of the Patterson situation, they cannot really splash the cash on the RB position. A player with the upside of Penny combined with his expected cost could be the perfect compromise. Penny would give the Falcons an explosive back they could build with in the second year in Arthur Smith’s system.
Could Penny remain in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals?
The Seahawks would not like to see Penny head south to the Cardinals and remain in the division. We have seen what Arizona can do with a talented playmaking back like Chase Edmonds at their disposal. However, with both Edmonds and Conner set to be free agents, the Cardinals need to address the RB room.
Arizona found an absolute bargain at RB in Conner, and they may decide that is the route to go again. Penny feels like that potential bargain. We have seen the talent flashed in the last couple of weeks, and his skills could be superbly utilized in Arizona’s system.
The Buffalo Bills might be in the market for a new RB this offseason
The Bills desperately need to do something at RB in the 2022 NFL offseason. They appear to have no faith in Devin Singletary or Zack Moss as regular contributors. That loads the pressure straight onto the shoulders of Josh Allen, who has often had to be the entire offense, both through the air and on the ground.
That is not sustainable, and the Bills need to look for a solution running the ball. They briefly turned to Matt Breida, who provided a spark, but they have gone away from him again. Penny could be that X-factor out of the backfield. He might not play a ton of snaps, but he could be utilized on early downs to try and take some pressure off Allen’s shoulders.
Penny may have to accept a secondary role in 2022 or return to Seattle for another season
It would be great to see Penny hit free agency and see what market evolves. Some teams will be enticed by the potential, while many will be wary of the injury history.
The Seahawks will have the chance to convince him to stay, and if Penny is worried he might face a cold market, maybe he takes a “prove-it” deal. On the other hand, the Seattle RB situation has never been a one-back structure, at least since Marshawn Lynch left. Therefore, remaining in Seattle seems like a negative option with limited upside for Penny.
However, he may have to go somewhere else and accept a secondary role. That could be somewhere like the Jets (where the backfield situation is unclear) or Cincinnati (as a primary backup to Joe Mixon). Other options would include the Texans, where Penny could quickly establish himself as the backfield leader. The Chargers also makes sense, as he would have opportunities alongside Ekeler. If the Broncos lose Melvin Gordon, Penny could be a complementary piece to Javonte Williams.