The Seattle Seahawks will enter the 2016 offseason with $22 million in cap space and a hole at the running back position. With Marshawn Lynch's retirement, the Seahawks now need to focus on who will replace him as the bell cow of this offense. They could go in two different directions, the first being to pursue a free agent running back with their extra cap space. The second would be to replace Lynch is with the players on their roster - namely Thomas Rawls.
Rawls is only 22 years old, and helped the Seahawks get to the playoffs in 2015. He recorded 147 rushing attempts, 830 yards, averaged 5.6 yards per carry, and four touchdowns, and would have continued carrying the offensive load if he didn't break his ankle. He also tore several ligaments which made his return unlikely, leading to Seattle utilizing Christine Michael, Fred Jackson and Bryce Brown in a committee.
Both Brown and Jackson are free agents, and Michael is a restricted free agent, so all of those players' futures with the club are still very much up in the air. The only running back certain to be on the Seahawks is Rawls, so in all likelihood they will look to draft a running back. Since they have the 26th overall pick, they could be in a great position to pursue Ezekiel Elliot, or more likely Derrick Henry, who would be a great addition to the Seahawks running attack.
