The NFL draft's most explosive running back would be dynamite in Chiefs' backfield

The 2025 NFL Draft is now only a couple of weeks away. NFL teams and their fans are busy finalizing their draft wish lists and dreaming of landing the perfect player who will make a big impact for years to come. One of the deepest and most talented positions in the 2025 NFL Draft is the running back position. I've been writing about the draft for over a decade for Arrowhead Addict, and this is the deepest class that I can remember.

Some Chiefs fans may not see a need to spend a draft pick on a new running back with Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Elijah Mitchell all on the roster, but as I wrote earlier this week, the draft is about the future, not 2025 and the Chiefs don't have any of those running backs under contract beyond this season. That's why this deep draft class is perfect for KC to select their running back of the future.

I've already profiled Ashton Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Cam Skattebo, Dylan Sampson, DJ Giddens, Devin Neal, RJ Harvey, and Ollie Gordon. If you're interested in any of those backs and haven't read their profiles that include how they would fit with the Chiefs, I encourage you to do so. Today we are going to take a look at Virginia Tech's Bhayshul Tuten.

Bhayshul Tuten - 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Age: 23 (when drafted)

Height: 5'9" (official)

Weight: 206 lbs (official)

Bhayshul Tuten's Strengths

Simply put, Bhayshul Tuten is the most explosive runner in this draft class. He ran the fastest 40 time (4.32) and had the fastest 10-yard split (1.48) of any back in this draft class, and his tape backs those times up. He also had the best vertical jump of the backs at the combine with a 40.5". That's a great jump for anyone, but for someone who is 5'9", it's really fantastic. He was also tied for the second-best long jump at RB with a 10'10" jump. Jumps are thought to show a player's explosive ability, and again, Tuten's tape backs up those testing numbers. He's got fantastic acceleration to get up to his impressive top speed very quickly.

If you put on Tuten's highlight reel, you may wonder why he isn’t one of the top prospects in this draft class. His explosive big-play speed really pops off the screen. Despite this being such a deep running back class, he's one of only a handful of backs you can confidently say will consistently beat NFL defenders to the edge on outside runs.

While Tuten is a smaller back, he's powerfully built. He put up 24 bench press reps at his pro day, and while he's only 206 pounds, at 5'9", he's still really well put together. That helps him maintain his forward trajectory when defenders don't have a clean, head-up shot at him. He has good, quick feet and can adjust/sidestep on the fly and/or deflect off of tacklers.

Tuten has reliable hands in the checkdown/screen game, but not a lot of experience running actual routes. His effort in pass protection is good, but he'll need some improvement in his technique before he's trusted fully on 3rd downs. He is also a dangerous kick returner, who had two 90+ yard kick returns for touchdowns in college.

Bhayshul Tuten's Weaknesses

Besides being a little undersized, Tuten has two main weaknesses that will keep him from being one of the top five backs off the board. The first is that he's had some fumbling issues. Tuten had 9 fumbles over his last two college seasons, and that just won't fly in the NFL. If Tuten wants to get regular touches—let alone be a feature back in the NFL—he has to hold onto the football. Period.

The other problem is that Tuten's vision between the tackles isn't nearly as good as his vision when working outside or in the open field. When Tuten has space to work with, he sets up defenders and finds the open space. When running between the tackles, he often lacks the patience and feel that several of the other top-ten backs in this class have. If there's a hole there, he hits it with confidence, but if there isn’t an obvious one, he either gets stuffed at the line of scrimmage or tries to bounce it outside.

Josh Norris of Underdog pointed out that Tuten had a worrisome 22.6% stuff rate. That means on 22.6% of his carries, he got no gain or lost yards. That's not great. Now, he still averaged 6.3 yards per carry last season because he had so many explosive longer runs. So Tuten is literally the epitome of a boom-or-bust back. If a team needs consistent positive yards from their back to avoid 2nd or 3rd and long, Tuten may not be the guy—but if they just want an explosive big-play element to add to their offense, he's perfect.

Bhayshul Tuten's fit with the Kansas City Chiefs

I'm torn on how well Bhayshul Tuten fits the Kansas City Chiefs. On one hand, you have a slightly undersized player with explosive big-play speed. That sounds like an Andy Reid guy 100%. On the other hand, you have a guy with fumbling issues who struggles on inside runs when the line doesn't give him a clear hole. Well, the Chiefs run a ton of inside zone, and they haven't exactly been known for consistent rushing lanes the past few years.

In fact, for the last couple of years, we've seen a lot of Isiah Pacheco plowing right into a logjam at the line of scrimmage because Pacheco also struggles with patience and vision at the line, and KC's line hasn't been great in the run game. If you put Tuten in on those exact same plays, you probably get the same lackluster result you do with Pacheco. However, have the Chiefs been running primarily inside zone the past few years because that’s what they want to run—or because they've lacked the speed to effectively run outside zone? Would they be happy to add more of those outside run plays if they had a guy like Tuten? Only Andy Reid can answer that question.

I will say this: I see an Andy Reid player in Tuten's film. Reid likes to create space with his play designs to let his playmakers make plays. Tuten is definitely a playmaker, and I think Reid could come up with ways to get him the ball to take advantage of his home-run speed. Take a look at the clip from Arrowhead Addict’s own Price Carter:

That's an Andy Reid play if I've ever seen one. Tuten scores easily on the play, not even having to hit his top gear. If you go back and watch it again, you can also see what I mean about Tuten's vision and patience being better when he can work outside and see downfield. He follows his blockers and waits to turn the corner until they're in position. I just wish you saw more of that from him between the tackles.

You typically see Tuten predicted to go anywhere from the late third round to the early fifth. I think he'd be a fantastic pick for the Chiefs in that range—especially if they think they can fix his fumbling issues. Andy Reid loves an explosive offensive weapon, and while Tuten may not be a perfect back for every situation, that special big-play speed is something defenses will have to account for whenever he is on the field.