The NFL Draft is an exciting time for the Kansas City Chiefs. Players that fans have had their eye on will officially become members of the team this weekend and it could lead to Kansas City hitting a home run with the 31st overall pick on Thursday night or finding a gem as the draft stretches into Friday and Saturday.
While the draft has evolved into one of the most anticipated events on the calendar, it can be nerve-racking for players already on the team. Some players who felt like they had an established spot can wind up on thin ice with one pick in the draft and pre-draft rumors can only add to their anxiety.
In the case of one Chiefs playmaker, the smoke could lead to a five-alarm fire. And it could put his job in jeopardy as the draft approaches.
Isiah Pacheco’s Future Could Be Impacted By NFL Draft
Isiah Pacheco has been a gem for the Chiefs after arriving in the seventh round (251st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft but the grip on his job has loosened after a tough season in 2024. Pacheco ran 83 times for 310 yards and a touchdown last year but his performance was altered after breaking his leg last September. While Pacheco returned for the Chiefs’ run to the Super Bowl, he didn’t fare better in the playoffs, running 13 times for 37 scoreless yards.
An optimist would believe that Pacheco could return to form with an offseason to put his injury behind him. But timing is everything in the NFL and Pacheco couldn’t have picked the worst time to have a down year.
The 2025 draft class is filled with blue-chip prospects at the running back position. While Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton figure to be long gone by the time the Chiefs are on the clock in the first round, there is plenty of talent available with 10 backs listed in the top 100 of Pro Football Focus’s big board entering Thursday night.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach also threw gas on the fire during his pre-draft press conference, declaring the running back position as “probably the deepest group” in this year’s class.
Brett Veach says the running back class is probably the deepest position group in the draft.
He mentioned really good players will be available in Rounds 1 through 5, and there’s “a good likelihood” one of those players ends up on the Chiefs’ roster.
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That means if Pacheco is sitting well going into Friday, it could come crashing down with the selection of Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo or Tennessee’s Dylan Sampson. Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson and his teammate Quinshon Judkins could also be targets as the Chiefs look to jump start a running game that averaged four yards per carry last season.
This may not have an immediate effect as Pacheco is likely to be back in Kansas City next season. But adding a running back to the room is definitely a long-term concern as the 26-year-old enters the final year of his rookie contract. It’s why Pacheco may not be excited about the draft as everyone else and could put the Rutgers product on notice this weekend.
