The Kansas City Chiefs are going to attempt to fill a number of roster holes this offseason, not least among them the leading role in the running back room, which was a minus position group for the team pretty much all season long.
Kansas City might do so by drafting Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame, the Heisman Trophy finalist and dual-threat back who will likely become the first rusher off the NFL draft board in April. But the Chiefs pick at No. 9, and several recent mocks have the New Orleans Saints swiping Love one pick prior at No. 8 overall.
If that happens, Kansas City can either take a swing on a rookie in the middle rounds and hope he can develop into a legitimate starter opposite quarterback Patrick Mahomes by Week 1 in early September, or the team can look to a wide range of free agents who might fill the job as well as Love, only on a more expensive contract.
One such player is Super Bowl MVP and Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III who finished the year as the league’s top-rated running back, according to the proprietary advanced metrics grading system employed by Pro Football Focus.
Kenneth Walker Represents Big Upgrade Over All RBs Chiefs Have Employed Across Past 4 Seasons
GettyKansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco.
Moe Moton of Bleacher Report on Monday, February 9 dubbed the Chiefs among the top five landing spots for Walker, who hits free agency in March following the expiration of his rookie contract.
“In each of the last four seasons, Isiah Pacheco or Kareem Hunt has led the Chiefs’ ground attack. Neither eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in those years,” Moton wrote. “With … Mahomes coming off a torn ACL and his early-season availability for 2026 uncertain, Kansas City could swing big for Walker as part of a plan to rely more on its run game than in recent seasons.”
Walker, 25 years old, rushed for 1,027 yards and five TDs during the regular season, adding 31 catches for 282 receiving yards. He produced 313 rushing yards, 104 receiving yards and four total TDs across three playoff games on the Seahawks’ way to a title.
The fourth-year running back rushed the football 27 times for 135 yards and caught two passes for 26 yards on Sunday, earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
Chiefs Can Save Money by Paying for Kenneth Walker in Free Agency, Drafting More Expensive Position of Need in Top 10
GettyRunning back Kenneth Walker of the Seattle Seahawks.
Walker, a second-round pick in 2022, has gamebreaking speed and a legitimate dual-threat skill set. He earned $8.45 million over the course of his four-year rookie contract and will likely look for a significant pay raise heading into 2026.
Spotrac projects Walker will command $9 million annually over the course of a new four-year deal, or $36 million total.
It would actually behoove the Chiefs financially to look for a running back like Walker in free agency and use their top-10 pick on a rookie who plays a more expensive position of need.
Kansas City is probably going to cut ties with offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor in the interest of saving $20 million, given that the Chiefs currently face a salary cap deficit of nearly $55 million. The team also needs help on the interior of the defensive line, as well as at edge-rusher.
All of those spots will cost considerably more to fill than whatever Kansas City might pay Walker. Thus, drafting one of the top rookie offensive or defensive tackles, for instance, will prove an economical move for the Chiefs — assuming the prospect doesn’t end up a top-1o bust in the years to come.
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