The Kansas City finished the 2025 season among the league’s worst teams in rushing production, but one analyst suggests they can look for an immediate upgrade with a 3,800-yard running back.
SI.com’s Jared Feinberg broke down the team’s backfield woes, noting that the Chiefs finished in the NFL’s bottom-10 for rushing yards per game. He suggested the Chiefs could address the need in free agency, taking aim at one of the top backs expected to hit the open market.
Chiefs ‘Lacked Consistency’ in the Backfield
Feinberg noted that top Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco “lacked consistency unless the Chiefs were playing under center,” noting that he primarily contributed from the shotgun formation. Veteran Kareem Hunt “added the physical element,” but lost the explosiveness of his younger days, Feinberg added.
“He was unable to add juice to a room that needed it,” Feinberg wrote. “Then, rookie Brashard Smith gave us flashes of an ultra-productive tailback with excellent scatback ability to be an explosive change-of-pace, but that wasn’t enough, especially with an offensive line capable of generating ample movement at the line of scrimmage.”
The SI.com writer suggested the Chiefs could address the issue in free agency, taking aim at Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne.
Etienne has topped 1,000 yards in three of his four seasons with Jacksonville, rushing for a total of 3,798 yards with 25 touchdowns. Etienne is also a solid receiving target out of the backfield, making 168 total receptions for 1,338 yards with seven touchdowns.
Chiefs Could Address Backfield in NFL Draft
The Chiefs could also use their draft capital to improve the backfield. After Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price declared that he would enter the draft, Bleacher Report’s Timothy Rapp suggested he would be a good fit in Kansas City — though with plenty of competition.
“The New Orleans Saints need playmakers at basically every position and Alvin Kamara is 30, so they would make sense as a potential option,” Rapp wrote. “And don’t be surprised if the Kansas City Chiefs try to add a jolt to their backfield after this season’s stunning failure to reach the playoffs.”
Price is projected as a late first or early second-round pick. The B/R NFL Scouting Department ranked him as the No. 2 running back in this year’s draft class, falling behind only teammate Jeremiyah Love.
Pro Football Network analyst Josh Weil believes the Chiefs could take the bigger swing, using their top pick on Love.
“With Kansas City in a rare position to pick so high and needing to add a new element to their team, bringing in a running back with the upside of Jeremiyah Love would be perfect to do just that,” Weil reasoned. “Love followed up on a 19-touchdown sophomore season with a 1,372-yard and 21-touchdown season that had him in New York as a finalist for the Heisman.”
The Chiefs will have other pressing issues on offense, especially if tight end Travis Kelce opts for retirement. It is also unclear whether quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be ready to play at the start of the season after suffering a torn ACL and LCL, which could force the Chiefs to bring in a veteran quarterback as a stand-in.
Chiefs Could Target 3,800-Yard RB to Address Backfield Issues