Could the Seahawks reunite with running back Alex Collins?

One position on the Seahawks’ offense that will likely be addressed this offseason is running back.

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The team has three running backs on the roster, but two of them are recovering from season-ending injuries and the third is a 2019 sixth-round pick.

Chris Carson, who has back to back 1,000 yard seasons to his name, suffered a fractured him in Week 16 while his backup, 2018 first-round pick Rashaad Penny, tore his ACL in Week 14. The 2019 rookie is Travis Homer, who was thrust into a bigger role after those two and C.J. Prosise all went down. Prosise is an unrestricted free agent, and due to his injury history, it seems unlikely he would return to Seattle.

Additionally, Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin were both signed at the end of the year to pair with Homer, but both are free agents and could retire or play elsewhere.

One former Seahawk that could be an option is Alex Collins.

Collins, some may remember, was a fifth-round pick by Seattle in 2016 and played sparingly in one season with the team, finishing with 125 yards and a touchdown. He was waived before the 2017 season and he signed on with the Baltimore Ravens, where he nearly ran for 1,000 yards while scoring six touchdowns.

Collins, 25, had decent success with Baltimore again in 2018 before a foot injury ended his season. He was waived after the season after he was arrested after crashing his car while had over 10 gram of marijuana and a handgun in the vehicle. He has since been reinstated by the league and ESPN’s Brady Henderson reported the Seahawks have interest in bringing Collins back to Seattle.

One veteran RB who remains a possibility: former Seahawk Alex Collins. He worked out for the team late last season. They're still interested, I'm told. Collins is a street free agent, so he can sign before March 18. https://t.co/sidW2uinC9

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) March 6, 2020

With the Seahawks likely adding to that position this offseason, would Collins be a good free agent addition?

“The thing that gets me excited about him is that I love Marshawn Lynch, I love what he brought to the team last year, but he just didn’t look explosive,” Michael Bumpus said on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant. “Collins looks explosive. He did have his (legal) trouble … but if the Hawks are interested in him, that tells me they at least think he’s a good person.”

Paul Gallant was impressed by Collins in 2017, especially in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers where Collins had over 160 yards of offense and a touchdown. He wonders why Seattle parted ways with him when he showcased elite ability immediately after being cut.

“When I think of Alex Collins, I don’t think of the 2016 campaign he had with the Seahawks and I’m curious as to why things didn’t work out with him because in 2017, he was really good,” Gallant said.

If Carson and/or Penny aren’t able to carry the load in 2020, would Collins be better suited for the team, or would Homer be able to take over more snaps?

“You’d have to go with Alex Collins just because he’s proved he can do it and he has a season where he rushed for 900, a season where he rushed for 400,” Bumpus said. “Travis Homer has potential. You see that and you like the way he runs … so I think initially, Alex Collins would be relied upon, if he’s signed, to carry the load, but then Travis Homer would get his opportunity as well.”

NFL free agency officially kicks off next week, with legal tampering starting March 16 and signings on March 18.

Listen to the conversation at this link or in the player below.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Paul Gallant and Michael Bumpus on Twitter.

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