After a late-season surge, running back Rashaad Penny has earned himself a pay raise on his second NFL contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the team is re-signing him to a one-year, $5.75M pact. Rapoport adds that the maximum value of the deal is $6.5M.
Penny, a first-round pick in 2018, put up underwhelming numbers in the first three seasons of his NFL career. He had received only 150 carries in his first two campaigns, totaling 789 rushing yards. In 2020, he was limited to just three contests. After a slow start this past season, though, things changed dramatically for him.
The 26-year-old had single-digit carries in each of his first four games in 2021. That total saw a notable uptick throughout the remainder of the campaign, however, as he gradually took over as Seattle’s lead back. Overall, he registered four games with more than 135 rushing yards, including three straight to close out the year. Along the way, he set new career highs in snaps played (253) and carries (119).
On the season, Penny totaled 797 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns. Most notably, his resurgence led him to average 6.3 yards per carry, which topped the NFL. His performance turned around the reputation he had previously established as a disappointing investment with regards to his draft status, while offering reason for optimism in what was otherwise a lost season in Seattle.
In addition to Penny, the Seahawks also have Chris Carson under contract for one more season. His presence makes it noteworthy that Rapoport states Penny “turned down more money elsewhere” to remain in the only NFL home he’s known so far. Seattle also has 2020 fourth-rounder DeeJay Dallas in its RB room. With Penny being brought back, the Seahawks will be able to carry over the same depth chart at the position that they had last year.
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