The Kansas City Chiefs' quick work in free agency continued in the legal tampering window provided by the NFL with the news that the team had signed Elijah Mitchell to a one-year deal.
Per reporter Jordan Schultz, the Chiefs landed Mitchell for $3.5 million for the 2025 season.
For their first two moves outside of the organization in free agency, the Chiefs have turned to former San Francisco 49ers. Mitchell was the sixth-round choice of the Niners in the 2021 NFL Draft. The team previously came to terms on a two-year agreement with former Niners offensive tackle Jaylon Moore on Monday as well.
The Chiefs still need further help in the backfield despite addressing things early in free agency.
The Chiefs were focused on rebuilding the backfield this offseason after leaning heavily on an oft-injured Isiah Pacheco and older backs like Kareem Hunt and Samaje Perine. Both Hunt and Perine are 30 years old and set to become free agents themselves, although it's possible the team will decide to bring back one of them.
Mitchell is an interesting choice to answer the concerns, however, considering he missed the entire 2024 season on injured reserve for the 49ers with a hamstring. MCL injuries robbed him off a few games during his rookie year in 2021, and myriad injuries have limited him to just over 240 offensive snaps over the last three full NFL seasons.
The promise is there and was exhibited when Mitchell set the Niners' rookie record for rushing yards in 2021 with 923 in just 11 games. Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is rolling the dice accordingly with the signing, hoping for a bounce-back season for Mitchell in 2025.