The 2013 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Eddie Lacy, signed a contract worth $5.5 million with the Seattle Seahawks this past Tuesday.

Since being selected in the second-round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, Lacy has had a roller coaster NFL career. He put up fantastic numbers his first two seasons, rushing for over 1,100 yards each year and adding a multitude of touchdowns. In the 2015 season Lacy struggled, only rushing for 758 yards, a significant decrease from his previous year’s production. Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy blamed this largely on Lacy’s weight, something that Lacy has always struggled to keep in check. However, Lacy did shred a few pounds and showed a promising start to the 2016 season averaging 5.1 yards per carry in his first six games before sustaining an ankle injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. His injury along with the expiration of his rookie contract forced him out of Green Bay and Seattle welcomed him with open arms.

The Seahawk’s recent acquisition of Lacy is an important one as their running game suffered greatly this past season after losing Marshawn Lynch to retirement. Lacy, much like Lynch, is a power runner who is thicker than most running backs and is strength-oriented opposed to speed. Lacy’s running style should fit well in the Seahawks offense along with the quicker and more shifty running back Thomas Rawls. Pete Carroll, the Seahawks’ coach, favors multiple running back offensive sets and having the pair of Lacy and Rawls, two dramatically different runners, will benefit the team greatly. As far as his weight goes Carroll is less concerned than Lacy’s previous coach, McCarthy, and wants to embrace Lacy’s build allowing him to be the best and most durable runner possible.

Lacy’s contract is a one-year deal guaranteeing $3 million with the numerous options in place based on his game performance and other attitude factors. Lacy, who is 26, is facing one of the most important seasons of his career. Because he only has a one year deal it is necessary that he prove himself and his position in the league in order to secure a long term contract. Lacy has demonstrated his ability to be an effective NFL runningback in the past and hopes to reemerge as an elite running back in the upcoming season with the Seahawks.