The Kansas City Chiefs' most recent draft class has already reported for duty during the team's recent rookie minicamp, which concluded on May 2, but each selection did so without an official contract. Now that the offseason has settled for the most part, the team is getting the proverbial t's crossed by signing them to their first NFL contracts.
The Chiefs traded up in the fifth round to secure the services of Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson. On Tuesday, he signed his first NFL contract.
Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing in 2025 with 1,451 yards on 251 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. He was one of just four FBS backs to average at least 120 rushing yards per game. He also caught 46 passes for 370 yards and 3 scores, giving him 15 total touchdowns on the season. Those receptions registered as the second-most ever by Cornhuskers RB in a single season. He was honored as the Big Ten Running Back of the Year and was named First-Team All-American by the Associated Press.
Johnson's deal comes in at four years with a total of $4,865M owed, and a $485K signing bonus—all of which is guaranteed. His 2026 cap hit comes in at just over $1M and reaches $1.4M in his final season, which will be in 2029. At the point that Johnson is ready to hit free agency, he will be 27 years old, which should be a prime window for him to cash in after years of cheaper production for the Chiefs.
Kansas City completed rebuilt the backfield this offseason after watching a post-injury Isiah Pacheco and an aging Kareem Hunt anchor the ground game in recent years. Kenneth Walker III was signed right after receiving the Super Bowl MVP trophy with the Seattle Seahawks, and Emari Demercado was quickly added as a potential third-down option after showing some dynamism with the Arizona Cardinals. The selection of Johnson in the draft further bolstered the position with more top-to-bottom talent than the roster has had in years.
Every rookie deal is slotted, per the league's collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA, which meant Johnson's terms were dictated by his draft position. Here are the finer details, per Spotrac.
Year | Cap Hit |
|---|---|
2026 | $1.006M |
2027 | $1.171M |
2028 | $1.286M |
2029 | $1.401M |
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