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The Kansas City Chiefs will have some decisions to make this offseason at the running back position. The team’s woeful performance on the ground heavily contributed to a sputtering offense and a discouraging 6-11 finish.
Of the players to record a touch out of the backfield last season, only former seventh-round selection Brashard Smith is under contract for 2026. The Chiefs are widely expected to replace incumbent starter Isiah Pacheco, who is headed for free agency — but how the organization goes about it is up for speculation.
The Chiefs were known to be close to acquiring Breece Hall of the New York Jets at last season’s trade deadline, a report reiterated by ESPN’s Nate Taylor on Thursday. While Hall is nominally set for free agency, the Jets have vowed to retain his services — even if the franchise or transition tag is required.
With Hall seemingly unavailable, who else can the Chiefs target for a star in the backfield?
Our former colleague Pete Sweeney — now of the Kansas City Star — reported last week that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne was interested in joining the Chiefs.
Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love has been among the most popular mock-draft predictions for Kansas City. While Love is arguably the draft’s best offensive player, the Chiefs may not be able to plan the offseason around acquiring him with the ninth-overall selection in April.
On Thursday, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer proposed that Kansas City may be a suitor for Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks. Walker was last seen totaling 161 scrimmage yards to fuel Seattle’s runaway victory in Super Bowl LX, and the running back was named the game’s MVP.
Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III’s situation with the Seahawks remains an interesting one. Presuming the Seahawks decline to tag Walker, the Chiefs loom as an interesting suitor.
Now, Andy Reid’s history would tell you that Kansas City might be hesitant to do it. But the Chiefs engaged the Jets before the trade deadline on a potential deal for Breece Hall, and GM Brett Veach said at his press conference here that the team will be actively looking to get more explosive in the run game this offseason.
While drafting Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love would be a more economical way to accomplish that, there’s no assurance that a guy who many see as the draft’s top player, even at a devalued position, will be there when the Chiefs pick at No. 9.
It’s also worth noting that some pretty smart teams have come around recently on investing at the position, partly on the premise that running backs have been devalued to the point where they’ve become valuable again. You’ll remember, two offseasons ago, the Eagles, Packers and Ravens—three smart teams—spent big on free agents Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry. Safe to say two seasons later, those were sound investments.
Maybe Walker, who might pair nicely with a high draft pick like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate coming in at the receiver spot, would be one too for the Chiefs. I’d also assume a few other teams, like the Broncos and Texans, might also see it that way.
Most expected Walker to draw the franchise tag. However, Seattle faces the dilemma of extending its pair of first-round selections from the 2023 NFL Draft: cornerback Devon Witherspoon and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Both players are expected to be among the league’s highest-paid at their positions. With the Seahawks currently for sale, a contract — or even a $14.5 million franchise tag — for Walker could be more than the budget allows, given the large bills coming due.
Aggressively targeting a player like Walker would be out of character for the Chiefs, given the minimal investment at the position since drafting Kareem Hunt in the third round of 2017. However, the wild card this offseason is quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ recovery from a major knee injury. While Mahomes is expected to be available early in the season — even as early as Week 1 — the team has no way of knowing how long it will take him to be at full strength.
Among actions the franchise could take to manage Mahomoes’ workloadin his return, augmenting the run game with one of football’s best backs in Walker would be one of the best. It would also add a new dynamic to an offense that has at times felt stale over the past two seasons.