Thomas Rawls

It's easy to forget that Rawls will turn just 25 in August, so his best football could still be ahead of him. He's trended down in each of the past two campaigns after a standout rookie year, but the Jets are banking that Rawls' disastrous 2.7 yards per carry average in Seattle last season was due primarily to poor offensive line play rather than Rawls' own shortcomings. With Isaiah Crowell, Bilal Powell and Elijah McGuire (foot) on hand at the position, Rawls will have to impress in camp just to make the roster. That being said, none of those aforementioned alternatives are bellcow running backs, so his chances of climbing to the top of the depth chart are much better than those of the typical No. 4 running back.

At the beginning of 2016, Rawls found himself with a golden opportunity to establish himself as the Seahawks' feature back, but the chance quickly slipped through his grasp as injuries restricted him to nine games and only brief moments that matched the highs of his rookie campaign. When healthy, he has thick legs and a low center of gravity that generates burst and power through the hole while making him very difficult to bring down, and he also offers plenty of elusiveness in the open field. Seattle added Eddie Lacy to their backfield to handle the lead role, and C.J. Prosise is also still on hand, but none of the three backs are exactly iron men, so Rawls could still find himself starting at times in 2017 if he happens to be the last back standing in any given week.

A year ago, Marshawn Lynch was coming off his fourth straight Pro Bowl and working on a Hall of Fame case into his age-29 season. He still might have that case, but he didn't strengthen it during a messy seven games. And now Lynch is in limbo, presumably retired (you never really know with that guy). Out with old, in with the new. Rawls, last year's surprise special, is now the Seahawks incumbent at running back. Rawls was outstanding in his limited work last year, putting up the league's best yards-per-carry average. He topped 100 yards rushing four times, including a 169-yard afternoon in Cincinnati and a 209-yard romp through the 49ers. The Seahawks didn't expose him to a lot of receiving work — just 11 targets, good for nine receptions. A busted ankle in Week 14 ended his rookie year. Just how good is Rawls, anyway? Seattle is hedging its bet on Rawls — pass-catching ace C.J. Prosise, a receiver-turned-running back from Notre Dame, was selected in the third round, and the Seahawks also kept Christine Michael around. The best-case scenario for Rawls this fall is probably two-down work on a good offense; worst-case scenario, maybe he's exposed as a starter. And we also have to be concerned about the rehab schedule of the ankle.

An undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan, Rawls impressed in OTAs and could make a run at displacing Christine Michael as the No. 3 RB. More likely, he's headed to the practice squad as the Seahawks aren't likely to give up on Michael, a 2013 second-round pick.