Kareem Hunt's arrival raises questions about how Chiefs should handle backfield

The reunion is now complete. Kareem Hunt is now a member, once again, of the Kansas City Chiefs' active roster.

The story is a hopeful one, on more than one front. Beyond the obvious, that the Chiefs have signed a player at a position that's suffered some injuries to help bolster it, Hunt's signing also carries forward a story that had been cut short. For some Chiefs fans, it's the chance to root for a player who threw (kicked) it all away in his second season and hopes for a bit of redemption with the same franchise.

But this isn't about that.

The addition of Hunt made sense in the moment. When a man goes overboard, you throw him a life raft. You don't wait to ask him what he's going to do in the long run once his life is saved. So it made sense for the Chiefs to go into "bolster" mode. They had a newer veteran in Samaje Perine, a rookie free agent in Carson Steele, and roster detritus thereafter. That's not a formula for long-term success.

How are the Chiefs going to handle the shifting amount of talent available to them in the backfield?

One week later, the Chiefs are adding Hunt to an intriguing group. One week later, Perine and Steele look a little different to the organization. Steele carried the load, literally, for an effective 72 yards on 17 carries. Perine had some nice moments himself and should only become more comfortable the longer he's with Patrick Mahomes and company. With the arrival of Hunt, there's suddenly a nice core of talent in place.

But then things are going to look real crowded.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire signaled on social media that his return was coming soon, and reports given during the Chiefs' broadcast on Sunday Night Football backed up those rumors. Edwards-Helaire has been on the team's non-football injury list (NFI) since the preseason, so he was forced to sit the first four games. That could mean CEH joins Steele, Perine, and Hunt for Week 5 against the Saints.

From there, however, the team's best running back, Isiah Pacheco, might not be that far out. Pacheco was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks. He's already sat out the Falcons game, and given that the Chiefs have a bye in Week 6, Pacheco could return as early as Week 9. That's a projection, of course, and a very positive one, but the scenario is entirely plausible.

What this could mean is that Hunt might only be available for four total games before the Chiefs have a fully-loaded position once again. And there's not enough room for everyone on the roster. At that point, what would the Chiefs do?

Too much talent is a good problem to have, but it's a problem nonetheless. Did the Chiefs act too soon? Not really. Knowing what they knew at the time, things looked dire at running back. However, what will happen at the position when the deck is stacked? Someone deserving will be on the outside looking in.

Pacheco will remain the lead back. Perine is the best look as a third-down back. Steele can ride things out at fullback, but he'll remain knowing he's both effective and cost-controlled for four seasons. Edwards-Helaire is on a cheap one-year deal but he's a known quantity and trusted by the coaching staff. The team has also been very supportive of him until now and it's hard to imagine he's the odd man out.

That leaves us with Hunt. But would the Chiefs cut loose a player they just signed, one with a redemptive story to potentially tell as he chases a Super Bowl ring after missing out on three others?

For now, that's just the fallout from a best-case scenario. The truth is that Pacheco might not be around for another few games, and even then, it's hard to believe that all of these parties will remain healthy and available going forward. The Chiefs can hardly count on CEH and Pacheco to be upright and effective for the next 18-20 weeks or so.

But if everything plays out as hoped, if everyone returns as soon as possible, the front office is going to have some very interesting decisions to make about the future at running back.