{"id":45060,"date":"2025-03-29T12:08:14","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T12:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=45060"},"modified":"2025-03-29T12:08:14","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T12:08:14","slug":"chiefs-looking-into-adding-powerhouse-running-back-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=45060","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Looking Into Adding &#8216;Powerhouse&#8217; Running Back: Report"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"post-featured-container-id\">\n<div id=\"post-featured\">\n<div>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Damien-Martinez-e1743205227412.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 820px) 95vw, 780px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Damien-Martinez-e1743205227412.jpg?quality=65&amp;strip=all&amp;w=780 780w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Damien-Martinez-e1743205227412.jpg?quality=15&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1100 1100w, https:\/\/heavy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Damien-Martinez-e1743205227412.jpg?quality=35&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1350 1350w\" alt=\"Chiefs Looking Into Adding 'Powerhouse' Running Back: Report\" width=\"780\" height=\"438\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Getty<\/p>\n<p>The Kansas City Chiefs are hosting Miami running back Damien Martinez on a top 30 visit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Kansas City Chiefs have scheduled a pre-draft meeting with University of Miami running back Damien Martinez, according to The Draft Network\u2019s Ryan Fowler.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Kansas City Chiefs will host Miami RB Damien Martinez for a [top] 30 visit, source said,\u201d Fowler reported on March 28. Adding: \u201cOne of the premier ball-carriers in the class rushed for 3,173 yds in three seasons at Oregon State\/Miami &amp; was the first Hurricane RB to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since 2016 this fall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It makes sense that KC would look into potentially drafting Martinez because his rushing style is somewhat similar to current Chiefs starter Isiah Pacheco.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMiami Hurricanes RB Damien Martinez projects as a powerhouse running back that can serve as a valuable piece of a running back puzzle at the NFL level,\u201d The 33rd Team\u2019s lead draft analyst Kyle Crabbs scouted on February 19.<\/p>\n<p>Continuing: \u201cMartinez is an angry runner with excellent contact balance, a fearless demeanor tucking runs into piles as a short-yardage runner, and enough diversity in his running style not to be an obvious play design tell for opposing defenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for strengths, Crabbs highlighted his assertiveness as a runner and his \u201csurprisingly light feet to cut suddenly and change directions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On top of his rushing style, Martinez is a bit similar to Pacheco as a pass-catcher too.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s not overly refined as a passing-down player at this stage of his career, but Martinez should be considered a scheme-diverse talent who can win between the tackles and offers room to grow as a pass protector,\u201d Crabbs noted. Within his scouting report, he also stated that \u201cswings and checkdowns\u201d were his primary routes in the passing game at the collegiate level.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Potential Chiefs RB Target Damien Martinez Likened to Former Steelers Starter Najee Harris<\/h2>\n<p>One intriguing Martinez comparison came from Bleacher Report\u2019s Dame Parson. The veteran draft scout likened the Miami ball carrier to former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick and four-year starter Najee Harris \u2014 who recently signed with the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers.<\/p>\n<p>To be clear, Parson is not projecting that Martinez will go first round. This is a strong RB class with a ton of depth, which sort of lowers how high you might have to take a player like Martinez.<\/p>\n<p>Parson listed him as a third-round grade, for example.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDamien Martinez is a densely built running back with surprising evasiveness with the football,\u201d Parson wrote, describing the RB. \u201cMartinez gives you both power and lateral elusiveness as a runner. He displays patience and bouncy footwork at the line of scrimmage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later, the draft analyst added that \u201cwhen [Martinez] isn\u2019t able to shake and bake a defender, he lowers the shoulder to run through them.\u201d Crediting the Miami product with \u201cimmense lower-body strength to push forward through contact from multiple defenders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMartinez is not a home run threat,\u201d Parson clarified. \u201cHis top-end speed is adequate, but it will not wow you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Parson believes Martinez\u2019s hands and pass-catching ability are \u201cunderrated,\u201d but also pointed out that his \u201ctechnique\u201d and \u201chand placement\u201d could probably use some work in pass protection.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Chiefs Are Expected to Draft Another RB as 2026 Free Agency Looms<\/h2>\n<p>We just finished with the bulk of 2025 free agency, but 2026 will be a big year for the Chiefs\u2019 running back room.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, Kareem Hunt will be a free agent once again, except he\u2019ll be another year older approaching his age-31 campaign. Pacheco is set to hit the open market too, barring an extension, and newcomer Elijah Mitchell only got a one-year deal.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, outside of second-year ball carrier Carson Steele, the entire Kansas City running back room will need new deals in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Needless to say, that \u2014 plus RB being the strength of this 2025 class \u2014 adds to the intrigue of the Chiefs securing another long-term running back option in the draft.<\/p>\n<p>Michael Obermuller covers the NFL for Heavy.com, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus specialize on the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on several years covering these teams on a daily basis. An NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate, his previous bylines include FanDuel&#8217;s The Duel, King Fantasy Sports and Pro Football Mania. More about Michael Obermuller<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs are scheduling a top 30 visit with Miami running back Damien Martinez.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":45061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Chiefs Looking Into Adding &#039;Powerhouse&#039; Running Back: Report - 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=45060\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chiefs Looking Into Adding &#039;Powerhouse&#039; 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