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As the Chiefs’ RB room continues to struggle, could GM Brett Veach make an external move?

It may only be a month or so into the 2025-26 season, but it’s clear the Kansas City Chiefs have one of the NFL’s worst running back rooms. The duo of Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco isn’t cutting it, and the budding emergence of rookie Brashard Smith is in wait-and-see mode.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes needs more from his rushing attack. A No. 4 ranking in EPA/rush (per SumerSports) is far more a reflection of Mahomes’ scrambling than his halfbacks being up to snuff. Could an external addition before November’s trade deadline do the trick?

One analyst seems to believe so. In a September 29 story for Bleacher Report, Kristopher Knox singled out the Chiefs as a potential trade suitor for a recent 1,000-yard rusher.

Analyst Pegs Chiefs as Trade Fit for Panthers RB Rico Dowdle

Knox thinks Kansas City, as well as the Chicago Bears, make sense for Carolina Panthers veteran Rico Dowdle.

His projected trade value for Dowdle is merely a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick — the lowest possible price to pay.

The former Cowboys starter signed a one-year deal with Carolina this offseason but hasn’t been a big part of the game plan,” Knox wrote. “He’s caught five passes, logged 28 carries and tallied 103 yards with a touchdown. As Dallas’ starter last year, though, the 27-year-old rushed for 1,079 yards, caught 39 passes and totaled 1,328 scrimmage yards. While he’s not the proven playmaker Kamara is, he has a modest $1.2 million base salary and should be available at a bargain.

“Dowdle is, at worst, a high-end backup and does have depth value for Carolina. However, the 1-3 Panthers appear to be in the middle of another lost season and might as well get a longer look at rookie Trevor Etienne.

There’s no denying that the Chiefs need some sort of improvement over what they have. Whether it comes internally or externally remains to be seen. Andy Reid-coached teams will always throw a ton, but Kansas City’s No. 2 ranking in pass rate over expected depicts an offense that struggles with balance.

This isn’t the first time someone has tabbed the Chiefs as a trade fit for a running back. New Orleans Saints standout Alvin Kamara was dubbed an intriguing name days before Knox threw Dowdle’s name in the hat.

How Much Could Dowdle Help Improve Kansas City’s Offense in 2025?

With that in mind, would Dowdle qualify as an upgrade? The answer is complicated.

He hasn’t shown that kind of ability this season. In four games for Carolina, he’s averaging a career-worst 3.1 yards per touch. His 1.2 yards per contact after attempt marks a personal worst as well. The sixth-year man, judging by Weeks 1-4, has lost his ability to be an effective primary or secondary halfback.

Last year couldn’t have been more different, though. In 16 contests with the Dallas Cowboys, Dowdle averaged a career-high in yards per carry (4.6) en route to the only 1,000-yard rushing campaign of his NFL tenure. He also hauled in 39 passes for 249 yards, good for a healthy 4.8 yards per touch. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted a 15.8% breakaway run rate and logged 26 carries of 10 or more yards.

For reference, Hunt’s 2024 regular-season breakaway clip (7.1%) was dead last among 50 halfbacks with 80 or more carries. Pacheco (11%) wasn’t much better at 47th overall. They combined for 14 runs of 20-plus yards. Per NFL Pro data, the Chiefs have produced football’s lowest explosive run rate since last season at 4.8%.

If Dowdle still has anything even remotely close to last year’s form, he’d be worth picking up. He’s still only 27 years old and aside from missing 2021 with a fractured hip, he boasts a relatively clean bill of health.

That’s a big “if,” but it isn’t like Kansas City has an actual answer barring a big-time Smith breakout.

Jordan Foote is a seasoned sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com with an emphasis on the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. He has years of experience publishing NFL and MLB content for Sports Illustrated’s On SI vertical, in addition to a background in NBA coverage for multiple outlets. Foote is a Baker University alumnus, earning his degree in Mass Media. He’s based in Kansas City. More about Jordan Foote

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