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Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine is leaving KC in NFL free agency.

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a loss in NFL free agency on March 10 — according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. Even worse, they lost said player to the bitter AFC rival Cincinnati Bengals.

“The Bengals are bringing back RB Samaje Perine on a two-year deal worth up to $3.8 million, source says,” Garafolo reported on Monday afternoon.

It’s somewhat of an expected departure for Kansas City — especially following the Elijah Mitchell signing — but that doesn’t change the fact that the Chiefs just lost a helpful piece on offense.

Perine took over the pass-catching RB role in 2024, appearing on a large majority of third downs for KC down the stretch. This was a job previously held by Jerick McKinnon, but Perine put together a nice campaign spelling him last year.

In the end, he finished with 322 receiving yards and a touchdown off 28 catches. Perine also contributed 92 rushing yards and a second touchdown on the ground.

Having said that, the 29-year-old only accumulated 25 scrimmage yards in the playoffs.

As is the case with all reported signings during the NFL’s legal tampering period, this move will not become official until Wednesday, March 12.

Chiefs Begin to Remake RB Room, Which Could Continue in the NFL Draft

On February 23, Chiefs beat reporters Matt Derrick (Chiefs Digest) and Nick Jacobs (KSHB 41) made the following prediction on their podcast, “41 is the Mic.”

“It wouldn’t stun me one bit if that’s where the Chiefs just kind of overhaul that overall running back position,” Jacobs said at the time, regarding Perine and Kareem Hunt potentially moving on for younger replacements.

Mitchell is younger than Perine at age 26, but his injury history makes him a curious addition.

The former San Francisco 49ers ball carrier has appeared in just 27 regular season games since being drafted in 2021, including zero appearances in 2024. Having said that, Mitchell is likely nothing more than a low-risk flier, and fans should expect Kansas City to continue adding at running back as the offseason progresses.

Hunt could still return, in theory, but if they move on from the veteran staff favorite, the Chiefs could look for a new potential RB1 or RB2 in the draft.

Simply put, the 2025 running back class is stacked, and it’d be foolish for KC to ignore that altogether. They don’t necessarily have to prioritize the position in the draft, but a mid-to-late round pick that identifies as a scheme fit could pair very nicely with current starter Isiah Pacheco.

The Chiefs also have second-year UDFA Carson Steele on the roster for competition and depth alongside whomever else they bring in.

Will Carson Steele Elevate Into Chiefs’ Third-Down Role in 2025?

With Perine leaving and McKinnon having aged out of the position, the Chiefs need a new third-down guy in 2025. Now, maybe Mitchell will have a shot at that role, or perhaps a draft pick claims it later this summer, but there is an interesting option already on the roster.

That’s Steele, who displayed good hands and awareness as a pass-catcher during his rookie campaign.

Steele finished with just 7 catches (off 11 targets) for 26 yards in 2024, but he made a few notable snags throughout the preseason too. At minimum, expect Steele to be involved in the third-down competition at running back.

Michael Obermuller covers the NFL and NHL for Heavy.com, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins, as well as the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. An NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate, his previous bylines include FanDuel’s The Duel, King Fantasy Sports and Pro Football Mania. More about Michael Obermuller

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