Chiefs could find Kenneth Walker’s perfect backfield partner in draft

Following their worst season in over a decade, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has had an active free agency period. He selectively targeted free agents across the board to fill the gaps left open on the Chiefs roster, which struggled mightily in 2025. Now, with most of the gaps filled, we may see some small free-agent moves, but for the most part, the focus shifts to the NFL Draft.

Veach made a big move to load up on draft capital, acquiring three 2026 picks and one 2027 pick in a deal with the Rams. Following the McDuffie deal, the Chiefs will hold nine picks in the 2026 draft, giving them a wide range of directions for their draft plan this offseason.

Coming into the offseason, the most glaring need on the Chiefs roster came at running back, where the team had not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt did it as a rookie in 2017. Veach wasted no time addressing the issue, signing the top running back on the market, Kenneth Walker, to a three-year deal almost an hour after the tampering period started.

But the Chiefs are not done at running back, contrary to popular belief. After signing Walker, the Chiefs also landed Emari Demercado of the Arizona Cardinals. Together with Brashard Smith and ShunDerrick Powell. The Chiefs have a solid group as it is, but Demercado was mistake-prone in the desert and incapable of earning more playing time even with injured players in front of him.

Veach has said in the past that he likes to address positions evenly in the draft and that he looks to come out of the draft with additions to each position group. With his history as the Chiefs' GM, it is safe to say he will look to add one in the draft. The question now becomes: which running backs might they target on draft day?

The 2026 running back class is weak in comparison to previous seasons, but there are plenty of players who project as long-term NFL specialty/depth running backs.

Four late-round draft targets for the Chiefs

Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana

Roman Hemby is one of the most experienced and well-rounded players in the nation, let alone at running back. After being a four-year starter at Maryland, Hemby was somewhat forced out of College Park and, after entering the transfer portal, landed at Indiana. With the Hoosiers, he helped the team win a national championship and ran for over 1,000 yards on the year. Hemby is a strong back who is a capable receiver and ball carrier, and that versatile skill set would be a great complement to the Chiefs' current RB room.

Le'veon Moss, RB, Texas A&M

Production does not tell the full story for Texas A&M back Le'veon Moss, who played a major role in the Aggies' three-back system. Moss was the "do-it-all" guy who could step in and make an impact in every facet of the game, and that versatility caught the attention of several NFL scouts. He may never be a superstar running back, but consistency and reliability will help Moss have a long NFL career—and hopefully it will be in Kansas City.

Robert Henry Jr., RB, UT-San Antonio

If the Chiefs are willing to roll the dice on a smaller-school player, Robert Henry Jr. should be at the very top of the list. Henry is a compact back at 5-9, 205 pounds, and is as explosive as anyone in the class. In high school, Henry was a four-sport athlete, playing baseball, basketball, football, and track and field. His athleticism shows up, and the biggest question for Henry is how well his game will translate to the NFL. But with the right development, Henry could be a star in the NFL.

Kaytron Allen / Nick Singleton, RB, Penn State

Penn State was one of the most disappointing teams in the nation in 2025, and many PSU draft prospects took hits because of it. None more so than their two top running backs, who entered the season as the favorites to be RB2/3 behind Jeremiyah Love. Nick Singleton is a great pass-catching back, whereas Kaytron Allen is a powerful ball carrier who can be incredibly hard to bring down. Both struggled in 2025, but if Kansas City can help them return to their 2024 form, they could be key contributors to the Chiefs' offense.

Regardless of who they get, the Chiefs will look to complement Kenneth Walker with a back who can come in and give him a rest when he is gassed. Do not be surprised if the Chiefs draft a running back late on day three, but also attack the UDFA market to raise some competition. As of today, Kenneth Walker is the only "lock" to make the Chiefs roster, and Brett Veach will almost certainly bring in serious competition for Smith and Powell to compete for the RB2 and RB3 spots.