With the 161st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Emmett Johnson. The Nebraska running back is the Chiefs' first pick on the offensive side of the ball in this draft and he's proof that Brett Veach is completely reinventing the running back room.
Johnson had an excellent year in Lincoln, dashing for 1,451 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns while also being a factor as a pass-catcher with 370 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. He truly can do it all and proved just that during his time with the Cornhuskers.
Chiefs fans already didn't need to be convinced but Oliver VanDervoort of Husker Corner, FanSided's site dedicated to Nebraska, further excited the fan base with his comments on Johnson.
"Emmett Johnson is the best running back to come through Nebraska in at least a decade. His lack of blazing speed is the only reason he's not a lock for a first-round pick. However, he was near the top of the country in missed tackles forced and yards after contact, both. He's both shifty and tough. He was named a first-team All-American by five different publications including Sports Illustrated. He was also a unanimous selection for All-Big Ten. The thing that could make him a real draft steal is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He almost certainly falls to the second round, but if he goes later than that, someone is getting a massive steal."
Huskers expert says Chiefs got themselves a steal with Emmett Johnson
These are obviously exciting words for Chiefs fans to hear, as VanDervoort noted that Johnson should have been a second-round pick at best and he fell all the way to the fifth round. The Chiefs needed to revamp their running back room and now, with Kenneth Walker signed in free agency and Johnson joining the team, they have some promising pieces intact.
Hopefully, the Chiefs actually give Johnson a chance to show what he can do because, if so, he should be able to shine bright in this backfield.
Add us as a preferred source on Google