The biggest move of the Kansas City Chiefs offseason thus far has been their signing of Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker III. The Chiefs' running game has been an issue for a while now, and an overhaul of the running back room was much needed. Isiah Pacheco is now a Detroit Lion, and Kareem Hunt hasn't been re-signed. The Chiefs did bring in Emari Demercado to provide some depth behind Walker, along with last year's seventh-round draft pick Brashard Smith.
While the Chiefs could certainly go into next season with Walker, Demercado, and Smith as their top three backs, it would leave them a little short on guys you feel good about giving a lot of carries between the tackles. While Walker is definitely going to be KC's undisputed top back and receive the most carries, his best trait is his explosiveness, and he probably isn't a guy you want to give 20+ carries every week if you want to maximize his big-play upside.
The problem there is that KC's current depth behind Walker is seen as more third-down-back-type options. Emari Demercado looked like he belonged on an NFL roster during his first three years in the league with the Arizona Cardinals, but he never had more than 58 carries in a single season. It was a similar situation last season with Brashard Smith, where KC only gave him 44 carries despite his speed and their lack of explosive plays in the run game. He did have 25 receptions, though.
So while the Chiefs certainly don't need to spend an early draft pick on a running back, adding someone who could provide some depth as a true between-the-tackles runner wouldn't be a bad idea. The 2026 NFL Draft class of running backs isn't viewed as a good or deep one. In fact, many big boards only have two running backs in the top 100 prospects, and both of them went to the same school (Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price from Notre Dame). Mike Washington Jr.'s combine performance has vaulted him onto some lists, but that's about it.
However, hanging around just outside of the top 100 prospects are two running backs who might be a great fit for the Chiefs' No. 2 running back role. The Chiefs are currently slotted to have pick #109 overall early in the fourth round, and that pick lines up about perfectly for where these two prospects currently sit on Pro Football Network's Industry Consensus Big Board.
Jonah Coleman, Washington Huskies
Jonah Coleman is a 5'8" and 220-pound bowling ball of a running back. He currently sits at #116 on PFSN's Consensus Big Board. Coleman had over 3,000 career rushing yards in college between two years in Arizona and two years in Washington. He also had over 800 yards receiving and, even more importantly, is viewed as one of the absolute best pass-protecting backs in this draft class.
You can read more about Coleman in Price Carter's excellent scouting report, but he really has three main strengths that he brings to the table. His short, powerful stature gives him fantastic contact balance that helps him pick up lots of yards after contact. He also has really good vision for finding holes.
The combination of those first two strengths makes him very effective between the tackles, and he would certainly be capable of handling some carries to keep Walker fresh and could even handle some short-yardage and goal-line carries as well. When you mix in the fact that he could also be effective as a third-down back with his good hands and pass protection, Coleman would be capable of filling multiple roles for KC behind Walker.
Personally, I think Coleman should go off the board before the 109th pick, especially in a thin running back class. However, his lack of elite speed, big-play ability, and short stature could lead to his selection in the fourth round. That would be in line with where a lot of big boards currently have him as well. If that happens, he would be a home-run pick for the Chiefs.
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska Cornhuskers
There are a fair number of Nebraska fans in Chiefs Kingdom who would love to see Emmett Johnson end up in Kansas City. The Cornhuskers rushed for over 1,400 yards last season and added 46 receptions as well. Johnson is 5'10" and 210 pounds. He's definitely less powerfully built than Coleman, but he did show the ability to handle a really heavy workload last season. You can read Price Carter's scouting report on Johnson here.
Similar to Coleman, Johnson has shown the ability to be an effective runner between the tackles without possessing top-end speed. Johnson does have a little more short-area quickness than Coleman but doesn't quite have Coleman's elite contact balance. Although Johnson's contact balance isn't bad, he thrives more on quick cuts and making guys miss. His vision is fine, but I would put it a little behind Coleman's.
Johnson is a better pure receiver than Coleman. While they both have really good hands, Coleman is more of a checkdown weapon, whereas Johnson can line up in the slot and run actual routes if needed. However, while he may be even more of an offensive weapon in the passing game, he isn't anywhere near the pass protector that Coleman is, and he would need to really improve in that area if he was going to earn Andy Reid's trust to be KC's primary third-down back.
Even if Johnson couldn't earn the primary third-down snaps early on in KC, his durability, shiftiness, and short-area quickness would make him an option to take carries on offense and keep the Chiefs from wearing Walker down with too big of a workload. If he could improve his pass protection with coaching, he has the potential to be a great third-down back as well.
These two backs would both be great fits that could fill multiple roles behind Kenneth Walker for several years to come. If their current spots on the consensus big board are accurate, the Chiefs could have a shot to land one of these two with their fourth-round draft pick, and that feels like a great spot to land a running back who could both contribute in meaningful ways and provide some insurance if Walker should miss any time. I personally feel like Coleman's stronger profile in short-yardage situations and as a pass protector makes him the better fit overall, but either back would be great value at that point in the draft.Â