Breaking down the Chiefs' completely rebuilt running back room

Despite all their success over the last decade, one of Kansas City's greatest weaknesses has always been the run game. One of the top priorities for the Chiefs this offseason was rebuilding the RB room, which had finished near the bottom of the league and had not produced a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017. The Chiefs had leaned on their passing game more than nearly every other team in football, and the message this offseason was clear: It was time for a change.

The Chiefs made several key additions this offseason, including giving out the largest running back contract in NFL history. Kansas City also brought in a second free agent back, as well as spending a key draft pick on one of the more underrated RB prospects on draft weekend.

With so many new faces, the Chiefs' RB room is being rebuilt from the ground up, and the team hopes for improved production in 2026.

Kenneth Walker III

In the 2022 NFL draft, Kenneth Walker was the second RB selected in the draft, just five picks behind Jets star Breece Hall. Over his time with Seattle, Walker has developed into one of the NFL's best ball carriers, and after growing frustrated with his role in 2025, he chose to find a new home in free agency. Now in Kansas City, Walker is the feature back, and the Chiefs will lean on him heavily to help rebuild their run game that has struggled to find any footing over the last several years.

Emmett Johnson

To be concise, the Chiefs committed robbery on draft day, coming away with Nebraska star Emmett Johnson at pick 161 in the fifth round. With the Cornhuskers, Johnson went for over 1700 yards from scrimmage, accounting for over 35% of their total offense. When you watched the Nebraska offense, not much happened without the help of Emmett Johnson, who carried the team to several wins, including against Maryland, Northwestern, and UCLA. While he will be second fiddle to Kenneth Walker, there is no doubt Johnson will find some playing time in 2026.

Brashard Smith

Smith was a seventh-round pick by the Chiefs out of SMU just last year and is known as a very skilled receiving back. Last season, Smith had more yards as a receiver than he had as a rusher, and while he is a below-average pass blocker, he provides a great change of pace as a third-down back for Kansas City. He also has experience as a return man, which could help him crack the Chiefs' day-one roster, and with his unique pass-catching skills, he will provide great depth behind Walker and Johnson.

Emari Demercado

The Chiefs signed Demercado this offseason to a small $1.25 million deal with hopes that he would provide depth behind Kenneth Walker for 2026. He was signed before the draft, and with the addition of Emmett Johnson in the draft, he will now have some competition for his roster spot. Demarcado is a compact running back who was known at TCU as a great rotation power back, and, with a build similar to Kenneth Walker's, the Chiefs hope he can be a reliable backup this season.

Jaydn Ott

Coming into the 2025 season, Ott was seen as one of the best RB prospects in the nation after an incredible 2023 season with Cal and Fernando Mendoza. But an ACL injury followed by a transfer and struggles to be productive at Oklahoma knocked Ott out of the draft and forced him to sign with the Chiefs as a UDFA. Ott follows his Oklahoma RB coach, DeMarco Murray, to Kansas City and hopes he will be able to earn a roster spot or carve his way onto the team from the Practice Squad.

Terrion Stewart

One of my favorite sleeper UDFA signings for the Chiefs this offseason was landing Virginia Tech RB Terrion Stewart. A straight-up wrecking ball, Stewart is 5-6, 222 lbs, and his ability to move at that size is truly a spectacle. In a league where everyone says "low man wins," Stewart is always the lowest man, and he uses his stocky build to truck tacklers between the tackles. You seldom see negative plays from Stewart, and he is an elite pass blocker. While he is a long shot to make the team beyond just the practice squad, Stewart could provide depth on the roster with a good performance in camp.

EJ Smith

The last UDFA the Chiefs added at RB was EJ Smith from Texas A&M, and despite a somewhat unproductive college career, Smith has the tools to be successful. He has good speed and burst and is an experienced player who consistently earns positive yards. Smith does not have great power and is an inconsistent player fighting through contact. He could be a practice squad stash who has the tools to develop into a depth back down the line.

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