Chiefs Could Make Trade Deadline Splash With 7,000-Yard RB

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The New York Giants are interviewing Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints’ long-time running backs coach.

The Kansas City Chiefs have more than bounced back after their sluggish start to the year, quickly climbing the ranks of the AFC with an ever-improving offense.

While quarterback Patrick Mahomes has the passing game back on track with the return of Rashee Rice from his six-game suspension, the running game still leaves something to be desired. Despite some improvement over the last few weeks, the general underperformance and uncertainty of Isaih Pacheco’s injury could lead the team to make a big move before the upcoming NFL trade deadline.

Chiefs Could Add Versatile Veteran

If the Chiefs aim to give their backfield a big boost, they can make a run at New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara. They would likely be able to land him for a late Day 2 or early Day 3 draft pick — somewhere in the range of a fourth-rounder — and help both the rushing and passing games.

Kamara has been one of the NFL’s most versatile running backs, despite never topping the 1,000-yard plateau and only twice eclipsing 900 yards. He also has 600 receptions for 4,909yards and 25 receiving touchdowns.

Kamara would help lessen the burden on Mahomes, who has been one of the team’s most effective rushers and led the team in both rushing yards and touchdowns.

Landing him may not be easy, however. Kamara has expressed a desire to stay with the Saints despite the team’s struggles this season.

“I think I’ve been vocal enough that … I don’t want to go anywhere,” Kamara said, via ESPN. “And I said it countless times, y’all know that. I think everybody knows that. The fan base knows that. And at the end of the day, it’s business.”

Chiefs Missing Top Running Back

While Kamara would not be able to join the Chiefs for some time if the team did pull off a trade, they may need some immediate help for this weekend’s showdown with the Buffalo Bills. Pacheco was hurt in the team’s 28-7 win over the Washington Commanders and is expected to miss this weekend’s game, with the potential for more missed games down the line.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported that the Chiefs are expecting Pacheco to take some time to recover.

“Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco, who left Monday night’s win with a knee injury, is considered week-to-week with an MCL sprain, per sources,” Pelissero’s tweet revealed.

The Chiefs will likely hand a bigger role to veteran back Kareem Hunt, who finished with nine carries for 40 yards and a touchdown against the Commanders. The team could also give more carries to rookie Brashard Smith, who who has 25 carries for 75 yards and 14 receptions for 122 yards this season.

SI.com reporter Zak Gilbert noted that the Chiefs have another veteran option if they choose to make a call to the practice squad.

“In the offseason, the Chiefs signed unrestricted free agent Elijah Mitchell, although Mitchell has been a healthy inactive all eight games this season,” Gilbert wrote. “Mitchell hasn’t played an NFL game since Super Bowl 58, as a member of the 49ers, in the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime win.”

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty