The Kansas City Chiefs made key improvements this offseason, including the addition of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III.
Walker carried the load for the Seattle Seahawks on the way to the Super Bowl, but even he will be the first to admit that it’s good to split time with a talented running back. He did that in Seattle with Zach Charbonnet before a season-ending injury.
Rookie running back Emmett Johnson, a fifth-round pick from Nebraska this year, could serve in that role as a quality second back. That said, the Chiefs are in win-now mode, and a proven veteran could fill that role more effectively, as NFL insider Mike Clay alluded to.
Clay suggested the Chiefs as a trade fit for New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Arizona Cardinals running backs James Connor or Trey Benson. All three “need new homes,” as Clay wrote. The Saints signed Travis Eitenne Jr., and the Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love.
Each of the three backs who Clay mentioned would offer value for the Chiefs. Here’s a breakdown of how each of these running backs would fit in Kansas City.
Alvin Kamara Would Bring Familiar Dynamic to Chiefs Offense
For three seasons, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes utilized former running back Jerick McKinnon as a pass-catcher out of the backfield between 2021 and 2023.
Kamara brings that to the table, and on a higher level as one of the best pass-catching running backs in the game. The five-time Pro Bowler is age 30, but he showed that he has something left with 471 yards rushing and 186 yards receiving on 33 catches in 11 games last season.
While those numbers don’t look great, Kamara played for the 27th-ranked scoring offense last season with the Saints. Kamara had 950 yards rushing and 543 yards receiving the year before when the Saints last had Derek Carr as the quarterback. The Saints worked with young quarterbacks in Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler last season.
Overall, Kamara has 7,250 yards rushing and 61 touchdowns, plus 606 receptions for 4,948 yards and 25 touchdowns in his nine-year career. Kamara has hauled in at least 439 yards receiving and ran for 694 yards or more in every season of his career until last year.
Joining the Super Bowl-contending Chiefs could rejuvenate things for Kamara, as he wouldn’t need to be the bell cow running back. That said, he could shoulder the load if Walker went down.
James Connor Helps in 2 Key Areas
Connor has been a reliable running back in the red zone and as a pass protector.
The Chiefs could use both to complement Walker in the backfield. Connor, 30, had a 1,000-yard season in 2024 for the Cardinals. He also had one of his best years receiving with 55 catches for 414 yards.
Connor only played three games last season because of a season-ending foot injury in Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers. It looks promising that Connor will be back healthy this season.
Trey Benson Has Promising Future
A former third-round pick from Florida State in 2023, Benson has shown promise in his young NFL career.
Benson averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and he reeled off a 52-yard run during the season in 2025. He also caught 93% of his targets and averaged 4.9 yards per reception.
The youngest of the three options, Benson could be a long-term fit for the Chiefs.
Chiefs Named a Trade Fit For RB Upgrade Amid Rumors