While the Kansas City Chiefs are still focusing on the 2025 NFL season, parts of the organization are envisioning what the future roster may look like. NFL draft prep has already been underway throughout the course of the college football season. As things stand, the running back position could undergo some changes for the Chiefs entering 2026.
Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are scheduled to be free agents. Brashard Smith will be entering his second career season next year. But right now, he will still need further development as a rusher. That leaves the door open for the Chiefs to potentially take a running back in 2026. Kansas City could go after a player who is seen as the top player at his position.
Former Chief campaigning for K.C. to land Jeremiyah Love
Former Chiefs and Notre Dame offensive lineman Tim Grunhard has campaigned for Kansas City to go after Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love.
Love had a solid finish to last season during the College Football Playoff. But in 2025, he has simply torn it up for Grunhard's alma mater. In nine games this season, Love has tallied 988 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, and 6.4 yards per carry. He has also added 254 yards and three touchdowns as a pass catcher.
Grunhard is not the only one who has floated the idea of a Chiefs-Love match. Kansas City has already selected a running back in the first round under this regime. Could they do so again with Love?
Running back is obvious area of need for Chiefs
It is very evident that the Chiefs' biggest weakness offensively is running the ball consistently. Pacheco has had flashes this season, but overall, he has not been the same player since the devastating leg injury early last season. Hunt has still been effective in specific situations as an older veteran. Namely, short-yardage and red-zone carries have been where Hunt has excelled. He will not be in the long-term plans, however. Smith has popped as a rookie here and there, but as mentioned, his greatest prowess right now comes in obvious passing situations.
Kansas City and its fans are still hoping that they will be picking late in the first round. With where things currently stand, though, the Chiefs are in the middle of the pack of the first-round draft order. At 5-4, there is a chance the Chiefs would be in the draft range of Love.
Pairing a dynamic running back with Patrick Mahomes is something that Chiefs fans have been longing for. Despite that, there is still a level of uncertainty about how much premium investment Kansas City will utilize on the position. You could argue that the results — or lack thereof — of Clyde Edwards-Helaire could lead to the Chiefs never using a first-round pick on a running back again. At least that could take place under Andy Reid and Brett Veach.
And sure, there are other talented and exciting running backs available beyond Love in the 2026 draft class. But if the Chiefs were to land this Notre Dame runner, the fear of opposing defenses would return fully. Defenders would have to account for so many different weapons around Mahomes.
Love is classified as a physical running back who will run through tackles. Visibly, you can see how he presses the hole with urgency while displaying effective vision for his blocks to develop. And most of all, the Chiefs have not had the mix of size and athleticism that Love brings in a long while at running back.
Kansas City landing Love would be a dream. The Chiefs have to continue to elevate the offense when possible. Even with a failed attempt at running back in Round 1 before, the potential benefit for Kansas City would outweigh the hesitancy that the regime may hold if landing Love is attainable.