Once the legal free-agent tampering window opens, the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be all over the running backs available. There are many different play styles available on the open market, but first and foremost, the Chiefs simply need more explosive gains out of the backfield in 2026.
Head coach Andy Reid has discussed that more than once since Kansas City's season concluded. Plus, one would imagine that the Chiefs are going to have to adjust with Patrick Mahomes recovering from a torn ACL. If you look at all of the free agent running back options, there are a few that can immediately add chunk gains. How much is K.C. willing to spend at the position?
If you look at the most explosive runners available, there is a certain price level that makes logical sense for K.C., given their overall cap status. The team currently ranks dead last in the league in cap space available going into the offseason, although that will change with releases and restructures.
Rico Dowdle is a name that immediately stands out. Spotrac projects that Dowdle will earn $6.5 million per season on his next contract. The Chiefs will have to be smart on how they piece together the salary cap puzzle. But in today's rising salary cap environment, that is still a minimal amount to spend while diving into the running back options.
Rico Dowdle was unhappy with his usage rate down the stretch in Carolina and is looking for more responsibility in 2026.
After his run in Dallas, Dowdle surprisingly signed a pretty cheap deal last offseason, and his 2025 season ended up being just as productive for him as his 2024 campaign, as he tallied 1,076 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, and 297 receiving yards. In the end, Dowdle proved he could handle a more significant workload with the Carolina Panthers.
Dowdle has also remained relatively healthy over the last few seasons. He's appeared in 49 combined contests over the last three seasons. 26 of those appearances were starts, all in the last two seasons. That should play into a nice contract for him this offseason.
In terms of his explosiveness, Dowdle tallied 24 runs of 10+ yards in 2025 via Pro Football Focus, a total that sits near the top 15 in the NFL in both explosive run rate and missed tackle rate per Fantasy Pros. And even in the screen passing game, he was generally too elusive for defenders to corral. It has been a bit too long since Kansas City had a running back that offered those attributes in the receiving game.
Compare that to the Chiefs in 2024 and 2025, and Dowdle would flip Kansas City’s running back room upside down. It’s a low bar to clear based on what the team received outside of short-yardage situations. If they land Dowdle, the Chiefs would be adding a trustworthy presence with a mix of burst, vision, and patience.
Andy Reid has always loved to chuck the ball all over the yard. Mahomes’ injury recovery will inevitably shape the offense, as noted above. Beyond that, Kansas City must reach a point where defenses genuinely respect the run game and face less predictable concepts. Will the Chiefs actually commit to running it more this season?
If not, that could easily be the difference in landing someone like Dowdle. Every running back wants to be the bell cow. However, the decrease in touches near the end of the Carolina's season is something that Dowdle is factoring into his free-agent decision. Dowdle is looking for a place where he can carry a greater offensive load, and K.C. could use a back like that in 2026.