What does Kareem Hunt have left in the tank for the Chiefs?

The last time Chiefs Kingdom got a close look at Kareem Hunt, it was accompanied by some level of awe and wonder.

Back in the fall of 2018, Hunt was a second-year sensation fresh off of a rookie campaign in which he led the league in rushing, made his first Pro Bowl, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting (to Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints). In that follow-up season, he'd increased his yards/touch over 3.5 yards—from 7.2 in his first season to an astounding 10.8 through 11 games.

Then came Hunt's release.

While we've all gone over the story of Hunt's transformation off of the field—how he immediately felt sorry for what he did and how he's been a humble citizen for the Cleveland Browns over the last five seasons—another big question concerns what he has left on the field.

In short, what exactly are the Chiefs getting with this 29-year-old version of Kareem Hunt?

A Browns editor tells us how Kareem Hunt has changed over the last half-decade.

The average fan will understand that running backs tend to age faster than most positions for the punishment they take—so much tread is taken off of the proverbial tires so quickly over time. Between the college and professional levels, the body can only withstand so much punishment. Hunt's own playing style was not unlike that of Isiah Pacheco—at least in the way they didn't shy away from physical contact and even welcomed it at times.

To find out a bit more about Hunt's on-field production and skill set over the last five years, we reached out to our pal Randy Gurzi, who is a Cleveland Browns editor for Dawg Pound Daily.

Will Chiefs fans recognize Kareem Hunt these days?

Gurzi: The Kareem Hunt Chiefs fans used to cheer for in 2017 and 2018 is long gone.

How valuable was he for the Browns these last few years?

Gurzi: He had his moments in 2019 after serving his suspension and then in 2020, he was a beast. Hunt racked up 1,145 yards from scrimmage and helped the Browns get through a four-game stretch without Nick Chubb. To his credit, Hunt kept the offense on track—which is saying something considering how good Chubb is.

What specifically has diminished for Hunt?

Gurzi: Unfortunately, his fearless style that made him a fan favorite also took a massive toll. He missed nine games in 2021 and by 2022, he lost a step and put up fewer than 4 yards per rush. The Browns were ready to move on but the torn ACL and MCL suffered by Chubb led to the unexpected reunion. Again, he deserves credit for continuing to play without fear and was a red zone beast with nine touchdowns. The problem is that he ran for just 3.0 yards per carry and offered little more than a solid short-yardage option—although, that might be all they need him for in Kansas City.