Chiefs desperately need what NFL Combine running backs just proved

The Kansas City Chiefs had a pitiful running game in 2025. While most of the attention and focus on KC's offense will always be on Patrick Mahomes and the passing game, the run game was clearly a problem last season. The Chiefs running backs were dead last in explosive run rate and weren't much better in yards per carry, avoided tackles, or broken tackles. In short, there was nothing for opposing defenses to fear from the Chiefs' rushing attack, and they've been neglecting the running back position for too long.

That has to change in 2026, and Chiefs general manager Brett Veach knows it. At the NFL Combine, when he was asked what the biggest weakness of the offense was last season, his first response was, "We certainly want to get more explosive in the run game."

While KC's lack of explosiveness in the run game is a big problem, the good news for Chiefs fans is twofold. First, Brett Veach is clearly prioritizing fixing the issue. Second, just days after making those comments about the run game, Veach got to watch multiple running back prospects show off the game-breaking speed that KC desperately needs.

The NFL Combine had seven running backs that put up 40-yard dash times that clocked under 4.5 seconds.

• Mike Washington Jr. - Arkansas - 6'1" - 223 lbs - 4.33 seconds
• Jeremiyah Love - Notre Dame - 6'0" - 212 lbs - 4.36 seconds
• Demond Claiborne - Wake Forrest - 5'10" - 188 lbs - 4.37 seconds
• Jam Miller - Alabama - 5'10" - 209 lbs - 4.42 seconds
• Elie Heidenreich - Navy - 6'0" - 198 lbs - 4.44 seconds
• Seth McGowan - Kentucky - 6'0" - 223 lbs - 4.49 seconds
• Jadarian Price - Notre Dame - 5'11" - 203 lbs - 4.49 seconds

Finding a running back who will add some explosion to an NFL running game obviously takes more than simply drafting a player with a fast 40 time. So which of these running backs has the best chance of converting a good 40 into breaking long runs in the NFL? Based on their college production and the general consensus of the scouting community, these four look the most likely.

1. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

Love is not only the consensus No. 1 running back in this class, he is one of the top prospects in the entire class. While the Chiefs will consider other players and positions as well, they would be foolish not to at least consider drafting Love if he falls to pick No. 9.

Not only is Love an elite prospect who is a special weapon in both the running and passing game, he definitely has an explosive element to his game that KC needs. Not only did he put up a 4.36 forty at 6-foot and 212 pounds, but he had 23 runs of 15+ yards last season. That was the most of any running back who ran the 40 at the Combine. In fact, with 199 carries last season, his 23 runs of 15+ yards mean he had a long run on 11.6% of his carries.

2. Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

While it's possible that the Combine results could cause another back to leapfrog him (more on that in a second), the second player drafted among those who put up a good 40 at the Combine is likely Love's Notre Dame teammate, Jadarian Price. While Price may have been a clear No. 2 back for Notre Dame, he has a good pedigree of his own and could have a more productive NFL career than he did in college.

Price may have only had 113 carries last season behind Love, but he averaged 6.0 yards per carry and still had 11 rushing touchdowns. While a 4.49 forty may not be as blazing fast as some of the other backs on the list above, it is still plenty fast enough to break runs in the NFL, and Price showed a knack for that in college, putting up 11 runs of 15+ yards. That represents 9.7% of his total carries. While that's a little short of Love's 11.6% rate, it is still excellent, and Price would likely be a huge upgrade for KC in that department.

3. Mike Washington Jr., Arkansas

Mike Washington had the best Combine of any running back in NFL history. While that may sound like hyperbole, there are actual numbers to back it up. Washington's combination of size (6'1" and 223 pounds), his blazing 4.33 forty, and fantastic jumps gave him the highest Relative Athletic Score (RAS) ever recorded, a perfect 10.00.

While Washington's size and physical style do make him a between-the-tackles-type back, his explosiveness shows up on his tape and in his stats as well. Washington had 17 carries of 15+ yards on 167 total carries. That's a 10.2% rate, second only to Love among the players who ran the forty at the Combine. Washington may have really boosted his stock in Indianapolis, and KC might now have to spend a second- or third-round pick on him, but his combination of size and explosiveness would definitely help the Chiefs.

4. Demond Claiborne, Wake Forrest

If you were looking for a player with special speed whom the Chiefs could potentially add to their roster on Day 3 of the draft, Demond Claiborne of Wake Forest would be the best option among those who ran the 40 at the Combine. Claiborne's 4.37 forty was one of just three times below the 4.4 mark for running backs. There are just a couple of things keeping Claiborne from the early rounds like the three players listed before him.

The first is that Claiborne is a little undersized for a feature back in the NFL at 5'10" and 188 pounds. That's not too small to succeed in the NFL, but the wear and tear of regular use on a lean 188-pound frame could be an issue. Plus, Claiborne wasn't able to convert that speed into the same explosive production as the higher-rated prospects. Claiborne averaged "just" 5.1 yards per carry. That's not bad, but the first three players were all at 6.0 or higher. He also had a lower percentage of 15+ yard carries at 6.7% (12 of his 179 carries).

Still, Claiborne's speed shows up on his tape, and his explosiveness was definitely on display at the Combine.

As Brett Veach prepares for both free agency and the NFL Draft and comes up with different options for making the run game more explosive, he can now target some of these draft prospects with even more confidence after seeing them back up their college tape with strong numbers at the NFL Combine. So what do you think, Chiefs fans? Which of these backs would you most like to see wind up in Kansas City next season?