The Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2026 offseason with a wide range of uncertainties, and one of the most pressing questions revolves around the running back position.

Both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are slated to become free agents, leaving Kansas City without a clear path forward at a spot that struggled mightily throughout the 2025 season.

The Chiefs’ rushing attack in 2025 was historically weak, ranking 25th in the NFL, a jarring statistic for a team that has long relied on balanced offensive production to support Patrick Mahomes.

While poor blocking upfront certainly contributed to the inefficiency, neither Pacheco nor Hunt has demonstrated the ability to be a true game-changing back capable of consistently breaking long runs or sustaining drives.

Both backs finished the season with a yards-per-carry average under four, a disappointing metric for any NFL backfield, particularly for a team hoping to control the clock and diversify its offensive threats.

Knowing this, sports analyst Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut predicts that Kansas City could turn its attention to a familiar name in the 2026 free agent class: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne.

Johnson suggests that Etienne could be an ideal fit for the Chiefs, providing both a primary rushing option and a reliable outlet for Mahomes as the quarterback returns from an ACL tear.

“Considering that Breece Hall is expected to command upwards of $12 million per season on a multi-year deal, we don’t believe he’ll be in the price range Brett Veach is willing to pay,” Johnson writes, pointing to financial constraints as a key factor in free agency decisions.

Instead, someone like Travis Etienne could offer Kansas City a cost-effective solution, balancing upside, experience, and explosive playmaking ability without severely limiting the team’s flexibility under the salary cap.

Etienne, heading into his age-27 season, has demonstrated three seasons with 1,400-plus scrimmage yards and at least nine total touchdowns, highlighting his ability to contribute at a high level both on the ground and through the air.

However, Etienne was not immune to inconsistency in 2025, with ten games under four yards per carry, which likely influenced Jacksonville’s decision-making as they evaluate the depth chart and potential replacements.

With the Jaguars drafting running back Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the team may feel comfortable allowing Etienne to explore free agency while Tuten steps into a larger role.

This could create the perfect opportunity for Kansas City to secure a versatile back who can contribute immediately as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.

In 2025, Etienne tallied nearly 1,400 yards from scrimmage, including 1,107 rushing yards and 292 receiving yards, underscoring his dual-threat capability and effectiveness as a consistent playmaker.

By signing Etienne, the Chiefs would gain a back with far more explosiveness than either Hunt or Pacheco, providing a dynamic option capable of breaking big plays in both the running and passing game.

From a financial perspective, Etienne is projected by Spotrac to receive a two-year, $13.6 million deal in free agency, which could make him a cost-effective acquisition for a Kansas City team projected to be $58.1 million over the salary cap entering the offseason.

This price point offers a unique combination of affordability and production, allowing the Chiefs to improve their backfield without jeopardizing flexibility for other offseason needs, including wide receiver or tight end upgrades.

While there is considerable excitement surrounding Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love in the 2026 NFL Draft, there is no guarantee the top-tier receiver will be available when Kansas City is on the clock, leaving some uncertainty for the Chiefs’ draft strategy.

Signing Etienne could act as a strong insurance policy in the event Love is no longer an option, ensuring Kansas City has a dependable offensive weapon regardless of draft position or availability.

Etienne would also provide Andy Reid with a reliable checkdown target for Mahomes, particularly important as the superstar quarterback continues his recovery from a major knee injury.

The Chiefs would not only secure a primary running option but also add versatility to an offense that struggled to sustain drives last season, creating mismatches for defenses unprepared to handle Etienne in space.

Historically, Kansas City has leaned on a balanced offensive attack to maximize Mahomes’ effectiveness, but a lack of a reliable running back in 2025 forced the team to rely heavily on passing, leaving the offense one-dimensional at times.

Etienne’s ability to catch passes out of the backfield addresses a specific need in the Chiefs’ system, providing a quick, athletic target in short-yardage and third-down situations that can turn small gains into explosive plays.

Financially, Etienne represents a low-risk, high-reward addition, as a one- or two-year contract allows both the player and team flexibility, with the potential for another payday for Etienne in 2027 if he performs at a high level.

From a coaching perspective, Reid has historically maximized versatile backs who can contribute as both runners and receivers, making Etienne a natural fit for the system and capable of learning from veteran leadership within the roster.

With Pacheco and Hunt departing, Kansas City’s backfield could be fully restructured around Etienne, providing a clear hierarchy and stability that was absent in 2025 when neither back could consistently carry the load.

Etienne’s speed, agility, and vision in the open field also provide added dimensions to play-calling, enabling Reid to design packages that stretch defenses horizontally and vertically.

Even with the potential drafting of Jeremiyah Love, signing Etienne does not preclude the Chiefs from selecting the Notre Dame superstar, allowing the team to improve multiple positions simultaneously while ensuring immediate offensive production.

In short, Etienne could represent exactly the type of explosive, reliable weapon Kansas City needs, giving Mahomes a safer outlet and improving a backfield that was unable to establish rhythm or control the clock last season.

Adding Etienne would also signal to fans and the league that Kansas City is committed to addressing its offensive deficiencies proactively, rather than waiting for draft picks to develop over multiple seasons.

Given the depth chart, salary cap considerations, and Reid’s offensive philosophy, Etienne appears to be the perfect free agent target to rejuvenate the Chiefs’ rushing attack and overall offensive efficiency.

The combination of experience, dual-threat ability, and cost-effectiveness positions Etienne as a logical and strategic acquisition, one capable of making an immediate impact while allowing Kansas City to remain flexible in future offseason moves.

For the Chiefs, the 2026 offseason represents a critical opportunity, and acquiring Travis Etienne could be one of the most important moves to ensure the offense is ready to compete for a return to the playoffs and beyond.

By blending veteran experience with emerging draft talent, Kansas City could restructure its offense in a way that balances risk and reward, providing Mahomes the support he needs to thrive post-injury.

Etienne’s addition would also send a clear message to the league: the Chiefs are serious about returning to contention and are willing to invest in high-upside, versatile players who can contribute immediately.

Ultimately, while the draft and other free agents remain on the table, Travis Etienne represents a tangible solution for one of Kansas City’s most glaring positional needs, potentially reshaping the team’s identity heading into 2026.