Emanuel Wilson's first stop in the NFL lasted three days. His next one lasted three years. Now as a free agent, the running back can only hope a new opportunity will end up more like the latter.
The Green Bay Packers set Emanuel Wilson free before the new league year, a surprising relinquishment of a young player who has proven to be quite productive behind Josh Jacobs. A restricted free agent, Wilson was eligible for a tender that would give the Packers the right of first refusal for any new deal. Instead, he will hit free agency at the start of the new league year.
Brett Veach is going to stock up
Wilson's addition to the free agency market is an interesting one because the Chiefs should be shopping for options on multiple levels. Most of the offseason attention on the position considers the top-shelf players available for K.C. to bolster the backfield—names like Travis Etienne or Kenneth Walker Jr. or Breece Hall. But there's room for more, and general manager Brett Veach would be wise to add a couple of names even before the 2026 NFL Draft.
Remember this: the Chiefs like to enter draft weekend with a reasonably solid roster. No team wants to lean on a draft class for immediate impact, and the Chiefs have made a habit of filling out the roster with enough free-agent activity to showcase reasonable depth before making their draft selections. Given the state of the offensive backfield, with only seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith on the roster, it makes sense for Veach to sign more than one free agent.
The Chiefs are scheduled to lose Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt in free agency, which opens a need for contributors at all levels. Smith looked solid in a late-season showing, but the Chiefs were hesitant to use him for most of the season, and he remains more of a variable than anything else. That's why the Chiefs are in the conversation for the best backs in free agency and the draft (like Jeremiah Love).
Wilson would never profile as an acquisition on that level, but the Chiefs absolutely need to shop for further depth. Remember, Veach grabbed Elijah Mitchell on the second day of free agency a year ago, and he hadn't been relevant since 2021 as an oft-injured veteran back. The re-signing of Hunt as a short-yardage option is a possibility, but what if the Chiefs wanted to get younger?
Why Emanuel Wilson matters
That's where Wilson's unexpected availability becomes interesting. The 226-lb. back signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Fort Valley State in 2023, but didn't make it out of minicamp. The Packers swooped in, however, and Wilson ended up leading the NFL in preseason rushing yards that summer. From there, Wilson continued to climb the depth chart to become a valuable backup behind Josh Jacobs.
Over the last two years, Wilson has averaged 114 carries for 499 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Those aren't pedestrian numbers. With a chance to start for an injured Jacobs, he responded with 125 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns in Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings. He's caught 30 passes in his limited reps as well, showing off the ability to be an effective weapon in the passing game.
The Chiefs shouldn't view Wilson as anything more than a complementary back on the open market, but it's helpful to have as many options as possible. The Packers could easily bring Wilson back for another year or more, but they'll have to fight with other suitors for the opportunity.