With the Kansas City Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention several weeks ago, attention within the organization has shifted firmly toward the future.
For fans, that future revolves around two familiar offseason pillars.
Free agency.
And the 2026 NFL Draft.
Whenever a season ends earlier than expected in Kansas City, the microscope intensifies.
Questions about roster construction, depth, and long-term planning immediately move to the forefront.
This year is no different.
What has been notable, however, is how quickly the Chiefs’ front office appears to be acting on those questions.
Rather than waiting for the offseason calendar to officially begin, Kansas City has already started laying groundwork.
And they are doing so quietly but deliberately.
Over the past several weeks, the Chiefs have brought in a steady stream of players for workouts.
These sessions are not headline-grabbing signings.
Instead, they are exploratory moves designed to identify developmental talent.
Players who could fit on the practice squad.
Or players who could be secured on futures contracts ahead of the 2026 season.
According to Jesse Newell of The Athletic, Kansas City held a sizable 13-player workout on Tuesday.
The session included multiple position groups and offered the front office an extended look at several fringe prospects.
Following the workout, the Chiefs made a pair of immediate roster moves.
Defensive tackle Marcus Harris was signed to the practice squad.
Linebacker Kam Arnold was added to the taxi squad.
Both moves align with Kansas City’s long-standing philosophy of continuously cycling defensive depth.
Yet among all the names involved, one stood out more than the rest.
Running back ShunDerrick Powell.
Powell was not signed immediately.
But the mere fact that Kansas City brought him in for a workout raised eyebrows.
And for good reason.
The Chiefs’ running back room is poised for significant change in 2026.
Veteran contributors Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are both scheduled to become free agents.
Their departures would leave behind both opportunity and uncertainty.
At present, Kansas City still has rookie Brashard Smith under contract.
There is also a possibility that Dameon Pierce could be retained via a futures deal.
But beyond those names, the depth chart is far from settled.
That uncertainty creates an opening.
And it creates urgency.
Kansas City’s offense has long been defined by speed and spacing.
The running back position, while not always the focal point, plays a critical role in maintaining balance.
Explosiveness out of the backfield forces defenses to account for every blade of grass.
ShunDerrick Powell fits that mold.
At least on paper.
Chiefs Can’t Let Promising RB They Just Worked Out Slip Away
Powell has been a familiar name on the workout circuit throughout much of the regular season.
After being waived by the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of the preseason in August, Powell has remained active and available.
Teams across the league have shown intermittent interest.
Kansas City is simply the latest.
Powell’s preseason numbers with Philadelphia were modest.
He recorded 23 rushing yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
He added one reception for two yards across three exhibition games.
Those statistics alone do not jump off the page.
But preseason box scores rarely tell the full story.
And in Powell’s case, they barely scratch the surface.
At the FCS level, Powell was dominant.
Between his time at North Alabama and Central Arkansas, he amassed 4,021 career rushing yards.
He scored 38 rushing touchdowns.
He was not simply a volume runner.
Powell was also heavily involved as a receiver.
He totaled 752 receiving yards.
He added four more touchdowns through the air.
He caught 89 passes over his collegiate career.
That dual-threat profile is precisely what modern NFL offenses covet.
Especially offenses built around space and mismatches.
Physically, Powell is undersized by traditional NFL standards.
He measures just 5-foot-7 and weighs approximately 175 pounds.
That size will immediately raise questions.
But speed changes the conversation.
Powell ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash.
That level of acceleration is difficult to teach.
And it is something the Chiefs consistently prioritize at skill positions.
Kansas City has never been afraid to bet on speed.
From wide receivers to running backs, explosiveness has remained a defining trait of the roster.
Powell checks that box emphatically.
The Chiefs are not unfamiliar with him, either.
Kansas City invited Powell to its facilities ahead of the NFL Draft in April.
That visit established an early connection.
The recent workout suggests continued interest rather than a one-off evaluation.
If Powell were to land with the Chiefs, his initial path to relevance would likely come on special teams.
His burst and acceleration make him a natural candidate for kick returns.
That role alone could justify a roster or practice squad spot.
There are limitations.
Powell does not offer much in pass protection.
That deficiency could restrict his early offensive snaps.
Protection assignments are non-negotiable in Kansas City’s system.
Still, creativity matters.
And Andy Reid’s offense thrives when it can manufacture space.
Using Powell on screen passes, swing routes, and designed touches behind a healthy offensive line is an intriguing possibility.
In open space, Powell’s speed becomes a weapon.
And weapons matter in January football.
Kansas City has already seen how quickly a promising running back can slip away.
Earlier this season, the Chiefs worked out Damien Martinez.
Martinez ultimately signed with the Green Bay Packers practice squad.
That outcome served as a quiet reminder.
If you see something you like, hesitation can be costly.
For the Chiefs, the risk with Powell is minimal.
A futures deal or practice squad spot would require little financial commitment.
The potential upside, however, is significant.
Powell could develop into backfield depth.
He could emerge as a situational offensive weapon.
At the very least, he could provide competition during training camp in 2026.
Competition has always been a cornerstone of Kansas City’s roster philosophy.
The best players earn roles.
Nothing is handed out.
As the Chiefs evaluate their offseason priorities, the running back position remains one of the most fluid.
Contracts are expiring.
Roles are undefined.
Opportunities are available.
ShunDerrick Powell represents a low-risk, high-speed option in that equation.
Letting him walk without further investment would be difficult to justify if the internal evaluation is positive.
Because in a league defined by margins, sometimes the smallest players create the biggest differences.
And for a Chiefs team preparing for a retooled 2026 roster, Powell may be exactly the type of developmental gamble worth taking.
If Kansas City truly believes in what he brings to the table, they cannot afford to let him slip away.
Not again.
