{"id":146096,"date":"2026-01-28T07:03:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T07:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096"},"modified":"2026-01-28T07:03:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T07:03:08","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8report-chiefs-eyeing-major-move-for-free-agent-rb-is-this-the-game-changer-kansas-city-needs-the-running-back-market-is-heating-up-and-experts-say-this-bold-move-could-reshape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs’ offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHIEFS’ RUNNING BACK STRUGGLE IN 2025: Will Kenneth Walker Be the Answer for Kansas City?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"ShouldKANSAS CITY<\/strong> \u2014 There\u2019s no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong> faced significant struggles in their 2025 running game<\/strong>. With Isiah Pacheco<\/strong> and Kareem Hunt<\/strong> leading the backfield, the Chiefs managed only 106.6 yards per game<\/strong>, ranking them a disappointing 24th in the NFL<\/strong>. For a team with Patrick Mahomes<\/strong> and a championship pedigree, that\u2019s simply not good enough. While Mahomes continues to carry the offense, the running game failed to complement his arm and truly balance out the Chiefs’ attack.<\/p>\n

The primary issue was clear: neither Pacheco nor Hunt could provide a home-run threat<\/strong>. Both are plodding, bruising backs<\/strong> who are more about grinding out tough yards than making explosive plays. That\u2019s a problem when facing defenses that are able to predict and neutralize such a predictable running game. The Chiefs desperately need someone who can create big plays<\/strong> out of the backfield\u2014someone who can change the game with a single touch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

A Running Back Overhaul: What the Chiefs Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Chiefs'<\/p>\n

As the 2026 NFL season<\/strong> draws near, one thing is clear: Kansas City needs a change<\/strong> at running back. The Chiefs need a lightning rod<\/strong> in the backfield, a back capable of taking a handoff and instantly making defenders miss, capable of taking the top off a defense with a burst of speed. Enter Jeremiyah Love<\/strong>, the dynamic Notre Dame<\/strong> running back who has captured the attention of many analysts. Love has the ability to bring that explosive home-run potential<\/strong> to the Chiefs, but the draft<\/strong> isn’t the only avenue the team could explore.<\/p>\n

The Chiefs tried to land a top-tier back last season with Breece Hall<\/strong>, the talented running back from the New York Jets<\/strong>. They made an aggressive push to acquire him midseason, but after some back-and-forth over draft compensation\u2014specifically, whether he was worth a third- or fourth-round pick<\/strong>\u2014the deal fell through. While it was a missed opportunity, it also signals the Chiefs’ mentality<\/strong> heading into 2026: they know they need a dynamic back, and they\u2019re willing to spend the resources to get one.<\/p>\n

But what if the Chiefs pivot back to the free-agent market<\/strong> for a solution instead of waiting on the draft? Could they go big? Absolutely<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\n

Kenneth Walker: The Chiefs’ Home-Run Threat?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"NFL<\/p>\n

Why not set their sights on Kenneth Walker III<\/strong>, the Seattle Seahawks’<\/strong> standout running back and PFF’s No. 1 free agent back<\/strong> heading into 2026? Walker, who has shown explosive ability in his career, could be the perfect fit for a Chiefs offense<\/strong> that needs a game-changing<\/strong> back.<\/p>\n

Walker is a versatile, do-it-all back who has proven himself both as a rusher and as a pass-catcher. In his time with the Seahawks, he\u2019s shown he can take over a game with his speed and vision<\/strong>, making him a perfect complement to Mahomes\u2019 high-flying offense<\/strong>. The prospect of Walker working alongside Mahomes could be incredibly tantalizing for Chiefs Kingdom<\/strong>. Imagine Walker breaking off long runs to the outside, then turning around and catching passes in the flat\u2014his ability to change directions on a dime would add a completely new dimension to Kansas City’s offense.<\/p>\n

The potential for a player like Walker<\/strong> in the Chiefs\u2019 offense is mouthwatering, but there is one problem: Walker\u2019s playoff performances<\/strong> are pushing his price higher. Should the Seahawks make a deep playoff run, especially with Walker\u2019s involvement<\/strong>, his market value will skyrocket. If the Seahawks make it to the Super Bowl<\/strong>, a huge contract is likely in the cards, which could put the Chiefs in a tough spot.<\/p>\n

\n

Is Kenneth Walker Worth the Investment?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If Walker\u2019s price tag<\/strong> continues to climb as he performs in the playoffs, the Chiefs may find themselves unwilling to get into a bidding war<\/strong> for his services. The Chiefs have limited cap space<\/strong> heading into 2026, and they may prefer to allocate their funds elsewhere, particularly to bolster the offensive line<\/strong>, defensive line<\/strong>, and secondary<\/strong>. However, if Walker\u2019s price doesn\u2019t get out of hand, Kansas City might just decide to go all-in on the powerful running back.<\/p>\n

The Seahawks\u2019 cap situation<\/strong> and Walker\u2019s potential to become the centerpiece of a high-powered offense will factor into whether the Chiefs decide to make a push. A deal for Walker would undoubtedly excite Chiefs fans<\/strong>, who have watched the offense struggle to establish a consistent run game in 2025. With Walker<\/strong> in the backfield, the Chiefs would have a legitimate game-changer<\/strong> capable of making big plays both on the ground and through the air.<\/p>\n

\n

What\u2019s Next for the Chiefs\u2019 Running Back Situation?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While Walker may be the most appealing option<\/strong>, the Chiefs must also consider their other potential moves in 2026. If Walker\u2019s price escalates, it may make sense for the Chiefs to explore other alternatives, including Jeremiyah Love<\/strong> or a potential trade. The running back market is crowded, but Kansas City\u2019s needs are urgent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For a team that\u2019s constantly striving for a Super Bowl<\/strong>, upgrading the running back position is no longer optional\u2014it\u2019s necessary. Whether they choose to make a play for Kenneth Walker<\/strong> in free agency or trade up in the draft for Love<\/strong>, the Chiefs must find a way to address this glaring weakness.<\/p>\n

\n

Chiefs Kingdom<\/strong>, get ready\u20142026 could bring a new, dynamic force to your backfield<\/strong>, and it could make all the difference in the Chiefs\u2019 pursuit of another Super Bowl title<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CHIEFS’ RUNNING BACK STRUGGLE IN 2025: Will Kenneth Walker Be the Answer for Kansas City? KANSAS CITY \u2014 There\u2019s no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs faced… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":146097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs' offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs' offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"CHIEFS’ RUNNING BACK STRUGGLE IN 2025: Will Kenneth Walker Be the Answer for Kansas City? KANSAS CITY \u2014 There\u2019s no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs faced...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"NEWS USA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-28T07:03:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrLuu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrLuu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096\",\"name\":\"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs' offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-28T07:03:08+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-28T07:03:08+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg\",\"width\":1080,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs’ offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/\",\"name\":\"NEWS USA\",\"description\":\"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69\",\"name\":\"MrLuu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"MrLuu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=8\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs' offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs' offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","og_description":"CHIEFS’ RUNNING BACK STRUGGLE IN 2025: Will Kenneth Walker Be the Answer for Kansas City? KANSAS CITY \u2014 There\u2019s no denying that the Kansas City Chiefs faced...","og_url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096","og_site_name":"NEWS USA","article_published_time":"2026-01-28T07:03:08+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1080,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"MrLuu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"MrLuu","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096","name":"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs' offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 - NEWS USA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg","datePublished":"2026-01-28T07:03:08+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-28T07:03:08+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/LUU-1-179.jpg","width":1080,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=146096#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\ud83d\udea8REPORT: Chiefs Eyeing Major Move For Free Agent RB \u2014 Is This The Game-Changer Kansas City Needs? The running back market is heating up, and experts say this bold move could reshape the Chiefs’ offense for the playoffs..ll \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/","name":"NEWS USA","description":"Your Daily Dose of Sports News and Updates","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/301df8231b74387730cd1ed513c32f69","name":"MrLuu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dc1fd3814c4cb3d1816165db2274a22bac8ad2b5452a36bf175d03eafdd0ecc5?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"MrLuu"},"url":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?author=8"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=146096"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146098,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/146096\/revisions\/146098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/146097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=146096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=146096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=146096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}