Chiefs Did What They Absolutely Had to Do in the NFL Offseason
The Kansas City Chiefs had a disappointing 2025-26 season. Actually, it was more than disappointing for a franchise that's gotten used to playing in the Super Bowl nearly every year.
The Chiefs wrapped up the season with a 6-11 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era. It wasn’t the year they wanted, but now the team is ready to turn the page heading into the 2026-27 season.
Thankfully, they handled business during the offseason. Most notably, they addressed one of their biggest needs at running back.
In ESPN’s official post-draft power rankings, the outlet ranks the Chiefs the No. 12 best team in the league going into the new season. They put them high-ish on the tally because of the improved running back area.
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“No other position could’ve been better enhanced than at running back, as the Chiefs replaced Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt with a trio of Kenneth Walker III, Emari Demercado and Emmett Johnson. Last season, Pacheco and Hunt combined for only one rushing attempt that went farther than 20 yards,” Nate Taylor states in the piece.
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He adds: “With the Seahawks last season, Walker finished second among all running backs in percentage of carries that gained 10 yards or more. Demercado and Johnson should be quality backups who offer versatility and receiving skills out of the backfield.”
My Analysis: The Kenneth Walker III Difference
Literally, all the Kansas City Chiefs had to do during this offseason was sign Walker, and I would have moved their offense up to a new level. Walker was dynamite for the Seahawks last season, and it’s not hyperbole to say that it’s possible the Seahawks wouldn’t have gotten to the Super Bowl, or won it, without Walker on their squad. That move changed everything for the Chiefs in the best way.
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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 9:14 AM.