Seattle Seahawks sign RB Brady Russell

Brady Russell's two-year, $4.8M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a cautious midmarket bet on a backup-caliber running back in a win-now window. At $2.4M AAV, Russell lands squarely in the depth-piece tier — affordable enough to avoid cap strain for a team carrying an A- CVI overall, yet expensive enough to signal Seattle believes he offers more than replacement-level depth at the position. The structure matters here: a two-year commitment suggests confidence in his fit within the scheme, but the modest AAV reveals realistic expectations about his role in a 14-3 division leader already pushing for playoff contention. Russell enters as a situational contributor or injury hedge rather than a core rotation piece, which is exactly what this price point reflects — you're not paying star money, but you're not treating him as practice-squad material either. The CVI grade hinges on execution: if he becomes reliable on third downs or special teams contributes in meaningful ways before the regular season starts in 91 days, this looks pragmatic; if he's buried on the depth chart by Week 4, it's money that could have been allocated elsewhere. For a franchise with an elite regular-season record and cap discipline, this is a low-risk add-on that doesn't compromise flexibility.