The Kansas City Chiefs have stumbled through the first quarter of the NFL season, showing flashes of the overpowering offense that made three consecutive Super Bowl appearances but largely falling flat as they dropped to 2-3.
One of the most glaring problems is in the running game, where quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been the most consistent rusher. One insider believes the Chiefs may need to take a big swing at the upcoming NFL trade deadline, taking aim at a 2,700-yard rusher who could be hitting the trade block.
Chiefs Need Big Move to Kick-Start Ground Game
SI.com’s Fernando Alfaro-Donis warned that the Chiefs can’t keep relying on Mahomes to save them on the ground, but haven’t been able to rely on their running back tandem for much production.
“It’s clear that a backfield consisting of Hunt and Isiah Pacheco isn’t cutting it in 2025 for the Chiefs,” Alfaro-Donis wrote. “Having a player that threatens teams on the ground keeps their defenses honest, as well as expanding the pass game to make things easier for Mahomes and their offense.
Alfaro-Donis suggested that player could be New York Jets running back Breece Hall, who has proven to be a versatile back who can make an impact in the rushing and passing games.
“Breece Hall has seemingly been forgotten about on the only winless team remaining in 2025, the New York Jets,” Alfaro-Donis wrote. “Trading for Hall would not only give the Chiefs a boost in their rushing attack, but his upside as a receiving back means the field spreads out more for Mahomes and all of the other Chiefs’ pass catchers.”
The SI.com reporter suggested it could be a swing-for-the-fences move, with the Chiefs taking on a big risk in the hopes of turning around their season.
“There are significant risks in trading for Hall,” Alfaro-Donis wrote. “He’s an unrestricted free agent next off-season, so a trade likely means an extension would follow suit. His current cap hit would put the Chiefs over the cap salary, not even taking into account the extension that would presumably come. Trading for him likely means giving up at least a high draft pick, and potentially even a young player in return.”
Some analysts have floated other running back targets for the Chiefs. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested the Chiefs could make a more modest addition in Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, who topped the 1,000-yard mark as a starter for the Dallas Cowboys.
Help on the Way for the Chiefs
While it’s not clear yet how aggressively the Chiefs will approach the NFL trade deadline, the team will be adding one explosive player to the offense very soon. Wide receiver Rashee Rice is heading into the final week of his six-game suspension and will be back for the team’s Week 7 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Rice had been relatively quiet during his suspension, but took to social media to share a three-word message.
“Everybody Gotta Eat,” Rice posted on Thursday, emphasizing the phrase that has defined teams that spread the ball around to a wide group of pass-catchers.
