3 mid-round running back draft prospects that are a perfect fit for the Chiefs

The 2025 NFL Draft is now just days away! The wait is almost over, and soon fans of the Kansas City Chiefs will have a class of new players to analyze. There are several positions of need for KC, and several position groups feature a deep enough class of prospects where value will last into the mid-rounds. One of those positions is running back.

The Chiefs may have Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Elijah Mitchell under contract for 2025, but beyond that, the cupboard is bare. Even when looking at the 2025 roster, the Chiefs are potentially missing a player to be their primary back on passing downs. Pacheco and Mitchell have been most effective in their careers as early-down runners, and although Hunt has a history of playing on passing downs, his advanced age (by NFL standards) makes him a less dynamic and reliable option than he was in his prime.

Fortunately for the Chiefs, this running back class is so deep that K.C. may be able to find a player who could contribute right away as a rookie on passing downs in the mid-to-late rounds of this draft. My favorite options for that role are below, starting with the back, I believe, is the most underrated in this entire class.

1. Tahj Brooks - Texas Tech - 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Age: 22 (when drafted)

Height: 5'9" (official)

Weight: 214 pounds (at combine), 220 pounds (at pro day)

Tahj Brooks Strengths

Of the three backs on this list, Tahj Brooks is the most complete. Brooks' stocky build and good vision make him a strong runner between the tackles, but he also has experience as a pass catcher and is a solid pass protector. That gives Brooks three-down upside that most backs in his range don't have. He has good contact balance, churning his legs through contact, and he also has good footwork and a solid sidestep to avoid contact altogether. I have Brooks in my top ten backs in this draft class, but most others tend to have him in the mid-to-late teens.

Tahj Brooks Weaknesses

Simply put, Brooks isn't very dynamic. His top speed and burst are both very average. He’ll make an occasional juke and has good footwork, but he isn’t terribly elusive, with only average change of direction and overall athleticism. He also has a ton of miles on his tires, having been Texas Tech's primary three-down running back for multiple seasons.

Why Brooks fits with the Chiefs

Brooks reminds me a little of prime Kareem Hunt in that he can be a quality early-down runner between the tackles, but also has the pass-catching prowess to play on third downs. Brooks is solid enough in pass protection that Andy Reid may even trust him to play on passing downs as a rookie. While he isn't as flashy as many of the backs in this class, he could quietly carve out an important role as a rookie and potentially become Kansas City's primary running back in his second season.

2. LeQuint Allen - Syracuse - 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Age: 20 (when drafted)

Height: 6'0" (official)

Weight: 204 pounds (official)

LeQuint Allen Strengths

If you were ranking the best pass-catching and pass-protecting running backs in this draft class, Allen would rank pretty high on both lists. He played some wide receiver in high school and set Syracuse’s school record for receptions by a running back. He can run routes out of the slot and has large, reliable hands. He gives great effort, both on runs and in pass protection, and his long legs give him big strides when he has space in the open field.

LeQuint Allen Weaknesses

Allen is almost built more like a wide receiver, and it limits his physical power as a running back (although he still runs very hard). His vision between the tackles is inconsistent. The same long legs that give him big strides in the open field hurt his contact balance, and he isn’t as quick-footed between the tackles as you’d like. He will probably be limited to a passing-down specialist role in the NFL.

Why Allen fits with the Chiefs

The Chiefs don’t have a clear third-down back with the departure of Samaje Perine, and Allen could fill that role on day one. Also, because Andy Reid is known to abandon the run for long stretches and lean on the pass when things matter most, you could argue that the passing-down back is the most important back on the roster. Allen is one of the best in that role in this draft class, but he can be had much later in the draft than more highly touted prospects.

3. Brashard Smith - SMU - 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Age: 22 (when drafted)

Height: 5'10" (official)

Weight: 194 pounds (combine), 200 pounds (pro day)

Brashard Smith's Strengths

Smith is far and away the most dynamic player on this list. He has electric big-play speed and acceleration. He has quick feet and can make defenders miss. He’s also a former wide receiver who can line up all over the field and run true routes. He has reliable hands and can be a great pass-catching weapon on third down. He is one of only a handful of backs in this talented draft class with enough speed to run the ball outside at the NFL level.

Brashard Smith's Weaknesses

Smith is small and probably shouldn’t be a primary ball carrier at the NFL level. He also lacks a natural feel for running the ball and how run plays develop, frequently relying on his speed to bounce everything outside instead of trusting or following his blockers. While he’s a great pass-catching weapon on passing downs, his lack of size, experience, and success in pass protection could keep him from being trusted as the primary passing-down specialist for teams that place a high value on protecting the quarterback.

Why Smith could fit with the Chiefs

Smith has two major pluses that will make him appealing to the Chiefs. The first is the dynamic playmaking speed that Andy Reid is known to covet. The second is his pass-catching ability, both out of the backfield and lined up as a receiver. Reid loves to play with different formations to get playmakers the ball, and that fits Smith’s skill set perfectly. However, the Chiefs are also known to place a lot of importance on pass protection when it comes to their third-down backs, and Smith is weak in that area. He also wouldn’t offer much in terms of being an early-down ball carrier.

So what do you think, Chiefs fans? Do you like any of these mid-round running backs as potential fits for the Chiefs? I’m a huge fan of Tahj Brooks myself. If KC were to load up on other positions early on in the draft and then target Brooks in the fourth round, I would be thrilled. The good news is we only have a few more days to wait until we find out what they will do.

Check out other running back profiles for the Chiefs below: