Kenneth Walker: Everything you need to know

Walker suggested Tuesday that he might have an opportunity to catch more passes with the Chiefs than he did with the Seahawks, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports. On the heels of being named the most valuable player of Super Bowl LX, Walker inked a lucrative three-year deal to lead Kansas City's backfield this coming season. Edholm notes that Walker earned a reputation as a run-first back during his four-year stint with Seattle, but the 2022 second-rounder -- who logged 31 catches in 17 regular-season games in 2025 -- has reportedly been spending time with QB Patrick Mahomes (who is bouncing back from a December ACL/LCL injury) this offseason in anticipation of a potentially expanded role as a pass-catcher. "We've been working on getting connected in the passing game and everything, so that's good," Walker said. "I feel like I'll be used more in the pass game." Either way, as the clear-cut RB1 for his new team, Walker figures to be busy out of the gate this coming season, while Mahomes works his way back to form. Competing for complementary work behind Walker will be a pair of newcomers in rookie Emmett Johnson and free agent addition Emari Demercado, as well as 2025 seventh-rounder Brashard Smith.

Walker is set to sign with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. On the heels of his MVP effort in Super Bowl LX, Walker is slated to move on to Kansas City, where he'll immediately slot in as the Chiefs' top backfield option. Meanwhile, Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, who paced the team's group of RBs in 2025, are headed to free agency, so who will work behind Walker this coming season remains to be seen. With star QB Patrick Mahomes bouncing back from a major knee injury that he sustained in mid-December, Walker figures to be a focal point of Kansas City's offense out of the gate in 2026. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Walker is getting a three-year deal from the Chiefs worth up to $45 million, including $28.7 million fully guaranteed.

The Seahawks officially did not extend Walker a franchise tag prior to Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, Nick Shook of NFL.com reports. Walker remains slated to hit free agency at the start of the new league year March 11, unless he and Seattle are able to agree to terms on a long-term deal prior to that date. The Super Bowl LX MVP figures to garner significant interest on the market, though with Zach Charbonnet (knee) recovering from an ACL tear suffered in January, it also stands to reason that the Seahawks would be highly interested in facilitating his return. What remains to be see is whether such a contract is feasible, with 2023 first-round picks Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon both eligible for extensions this offseason. Walker suited up for all 17 regular-season games for the first time in his career in 2025, rushing 221 times for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, plus a 31-282-0 receiving line (36 targets). Most notably, though, he averaged over 100 rushing yards per game across his three playoff appearances, reaching the end zone four times.