Former 1,000-Yard Rusher Devin Singletary Visits Seattle Seahawks Amid 2024 Offseason Backfield Overhaul
Key keywords: Former 1000-yard rusher, Seattle Seahawks, 2024 NFL offseason, NFL free agency visit, running back depth, Devin Singletary, Seahawks offensive roster upgrade, NFC West playoff contention
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks welcomed former 1,000-yard rusher Devin Singletary to their Renton training facility for an official free agency visit on Wednesday, marking the franchise’s latest move to strengthen its inconsistent running back room ahead of the 2024 NFL regular season. Singletary, 27, is coming off a career-best 2023 campaign with the Houston Texans, where he recorded 1,068 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns, 30 receptions for 193 yards, and a 4.3 yards per carry average while splitting carries with second-year back Dameon Pierce.
The Seahawks’ interest in Singletary comes after a rocky 2023 season for their rushing unit. Starter Kenneth Walker III missed four games with recurring ankle injuries, finishing the year with 905 rushing yards, while rookie backup Zach Charbonnet showed promise as a pass-catching back but struggled to generate consistent yardage between the tackles. The team ranked 17th league-wide in total rushing yards last season, a gap that offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has publicly prioritized closing to take pressure off quarterback Geno Smith and open up more options in the red zone.
League sources confirmed that Singletary’s visit included a full physical evaluation to review his history of minor lower-body injuries, one-on-one meetings with Grubb, running backs coach Chad Morton, and general manager John Schneider, and a walkthrough of the team’s newly renovated performance center. Insiders note that the Seahawks are prepared to offer Singletary a one-year contract worth between $3.2 million and $4.5 million, with performance incentives that could push the total value to $6 million if he hits specific rushing and reception benchmarks.
Singletary is also drawing interest from the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but sources close to the player say the opportunity to compete for a playoff spot in the NFC West and take on a flexible, high-usage role in Grubb’s zone-heavy offensive scheme makes Seattle the most attractive landing spot for him. If signed, Singletary will form a three-man rotation with Walker and Charbonnet, giving the Seahawks one of the deepest running back units in the conference and addressing a major weakness that kept them out of the 2023 playoff bracket.
Featured Comments
As a 12-year Seahawks season ticket holder, I’m absolutely thrilled about this visit. Singletary was such a consistent playmaker for the Texans last year, and he’d eliminate the huge drop-off we saw when Walker got injured last season. This is exactly the low-risk, high-reward signing we need to push us back into playoff contention.
This move fits perfectly with Grubb’s new offensive scheme. Singletary is elite at reading zone running blocks, and he’s a way more reliable pass catcher than most casual fans realize. He’d be perfect for third-and-short situations and red zone carries, and he’s never been a problem when it comes to splitting carries with other backs. I’d be shocked if we don’t have a signed deal by Friday.
I like Singletary as a player, but I hope the front office doesn’t overpay here. We still have major gaps to fill on the offensive line and in our cornerback room, so we can’t blow a big chunk of our remaining cap space on a running back who’s going to be third on the depth chart. If we can get him on that $3 million one-year deal that’s being reported, that’s a steal, but anything more than that is unnecessary.