The Seattle Seahawks are in a bit of a pickle. Albeit a good one. Last year, in the first round, the Seahawks drafted Rashaad Penny to be their lead-back of the future. But, by the end of the 2018 season, he wasn't. That title belonged to Chris Carson; their seventh-round pick in 2017.

Heading into the 2019 season, Carson appears to have the depth chart in his favor. After all, in his second season as a pro, he ran for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns on a healthy 4.7 YPC average. But, is he the Seahawks long-term answer at the position?

To find that out, we first must get contractual. Carson's contract runs out after the 2020 season, and if the Seahawks accept Penny's fifth-year option, his will run through 2022. Just based on contracts alone, Carson isn't the long-term option, but it doesn't mean he can't be.

Chris Carson, Seahawks

As it currently stands, Carson is the Seahawks best running back on the roster, despite Penny's first-round pedigree. In 2018, he showed that. He's not huge (5-foot-11, 222-pounds), but he's a powerful, bludgeoning force that can take a large workload and shine with it.

Despite running behind a unit that ranked 22nd in run-blocking, per Pro Football Focus, Carson was able to create yards and a lot of them. He led the league in broken tackles with 45 and his 3.4 yards after contact were second in the NFL. His 831 total rushing yards after contact is also a high-ranking number, per PFF.

Carson, in every sense, is what the Seahawks currently need as a bell-cow back. His powerful, unrelenting style of play can slow down games, and pull linebackers in, in turn, allowing Russell Wilson to exploit a run-orientated defense. PFF agrees with his power, bell-cow status, as his 84.4 2018 grade ranked fourth amongst running backs in the league.

However, despite his impressive season, Carson may not be the long-term option in Seattle. The team invested heavily in Penny by taking him with a first in 2018, and he is on contract for much longer. Though Penny disappointed in his first season, his electric, joy-stick style of play showed on several instances.

Pete Carroll, Chris Carson, Seahawks

Carson will enter 2019 as the lead-back, and deservingly so. But, Seattle is a run orientated team, meaning we will see a lot of Penny in-fold as a relief. If the former San Diego State back can prove that he was worth a first-round pick, Carson may be put on a back-burner — the team has invested too much into Penny.

But, if Penny doesn't live up to expectations and crumbles, Carson will be the team's unquestioned leader at the position. Though, in an ideal world, we'd like to see the Seahawks split time between the two, at least until Carson's contract runs up. Penny and Carson have the potential to be an excellent pairing, as Carson's powerful game and Penny's elusive, speedy one contrast each other well. Though Penny isn't as dynamic as Alvin Kamara as a pass-catcher, the two could prove to be a similar combo as we saw with Kamara and Mark Ingram in New Orleans the past two seasons.

Final Verdict

Yes and no. Carson will be the lead-back in 2019, but if Penny lives up to expectations, that could change. Carson is a talented runner and is worthy of being a lead back, but the Seahawks investments at position paint a less favorable outlook for his long-term future.