New Chiefs playmaker could unseat established running backs on depth chart

Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco

The Kansas City Chiefs’ rushing attack was among the worst in the NFL in 2024. So, they brought in former San Francisco 49ers tailback Elijah Mitchell this offseason with hopes of remedying those woes. But what are the odds he supplants Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt as the leader of the team’s backfield committee?

Of course, losing their starter, Pacheco, to a severe leg issue in Week 2 exacerbated Kansas City’s problems on the ground last season. But he wasn’t the same upon rejoining the lineup, so the team continued leaning on Hunt, a fine albeit uninspiring veteran. The duo left much to be desired, giving Mitchell a clear path from flier to fixture for the perennial Super Bowl-contending Chiefs.

Can Elijah Mitchell become the Chiefs’ primary RB, over Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt?

Yes. Mitchell has the talent and big-play ability to climb atop Kansas City’s depth chart. He offers an element of explosiveness that the Chiefs haven’t had with Pacheco and Hunt, making him an intriguing name worth monitoring through training camp.

Hunt did a fine job of getting what the Chiefs blocked for him. He came in off the couch midseason and filled in admirably after Pacheco went down, especially given the circumstances. Nevertheless, an overreliance on superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ elite defense was among their biggest downfalls last year.

In comes Mitchell, a rising fourth-year pro with a 1,100-scrimmage-yard campaign on his résumé. He’s a physical specimen, as demonstrated by a 99 athleticism score during the draft scouting/evaluation process in 2021. For context, former first-round pick Travis Etienne was the only other back in their class to receive such a high score.

The case against Elijah Mitchell becoming the Chiefs’ starting RB

Pacheco struggled to regain his pre-injury form when returning to the Chiefs, as expected. He expedited his recovery to try helping Kansas City’s pursuit of the first-ever three-peat in NFL history. The 26-year-old was physically on the field but wasn’t anywhere near 100 percent health, and it showed.

A surgically-repaired fractured fibula and ligament damage reasonably hampered Pacheco. Tony Pollard also required a “TightRope” procedure after experiencing a similar situation with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. It took time, but the latter found his footing, which should give Chiefs Kingdom hope about the former.

Roughly 20 months later, Pollard re-established himself with the Tennessee Titans. Pacheco won’t be as far removed from his surgery come Kansas City’s regular-season opener, but almost a year will have passed. Regardless, Mitchell faces stiff competition for touches, assuming better health.

Back in May, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Pacheco “looks tremendous right now,” according to Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star. It’s too early to put a ton of stock into comments like that, though it’s certainly a sign of progress.

Conversely, Mitchell’s fair share of injury concerns could derail his road to relevancy in Kansas City. He dealt with shoulder, finger, knee and concussion issues during his breakout rookie season, suggesting that a high-volume role may not suit him. Fortunately for the Chiefs, Pacheco and Hunt give them some innings eaters.

Related Posts

Travіѕ Kelce haѕ donated $5.5 mіllіon to ѕuррort vіctіmѕ and aіd іn the ѕearch and reѕcue of thoѕe mіѕѕіng іn the devaѕtatіng Texaѕ flaѕh floodѕ. Fanѕ were ѕhocked to learn that he рerѕonally went to the ѕcene of the dіѕaѕter to helр dіrectly. Detaіlѕ іn the commentѕ

Travis Kelce Makes Generous $5.5 Million Donation to Texas Flood Victims and Offers Hands-On Help In a stunning display of

🚨NFL Newѕ: Dolрhіnѕ Conѕіder Draѕtіc Tua Tagovaіloa Decіѕіon Amіd Mіke McDanіel Fіrіng Reрortѕ

The Dolphins are on shaky ground! After a disappointing 2024 season, they dropped to 8-9. For the first time in three years,

UPDATE: Kanѕaѕ Cіty Chіefѕ head coach Andy Reіd haѕ ѕteррed іn to cover the funeral exрenѕeѕ and рrovіde comрenѕatіon for the emotіonal and fіnancіal damageѕ to the vіctіmѕ’ famіly іn central Texaѕ flaѕh floodѕ on Sunday afternoon.

UPDATE: Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid Steps In to Help Victims of Central Texas Flash Floods – A Controversial

🚨NOBLE HEART: In the dіffіcult and deрrіved Texaѕ, Dallaѕ Cowboyѕ quarterback Dak Preѕcott рerѕonally tranѕрorted 400,000 lіterѕ of clean water to helр the рeoрle. After arrіvіng, the reactіon of the рeoрle here ѕurрrіѕed hіm…

As Texas continues to battle a historic natural disaster, thousands of families across the state are facing extreme shortages of clean water. But amidst the

I Waѕ the Only One There—And They Were All Lookіng at Me” Durіng the cataѕtroрhіc Texaѕ floodѕ thіѕ 4th of July weekend, 49erѕ wіde receіver Brandon Aіyuk unexрectedly found hіmѕelf at Camр Myѕtіc, rіght aѕ the ѕіtuatіon turned deadly. 27 camрerѕ and ѕtaff loѕt theіr lіveѕ. Brandon, relyіng only on іnѕtіnct and courage, helрed brіng 165 otherѕ—moѕtly frіghtened kіdѕ—to ѕafety before any formal reѕcue team could arrіve. He now oрenѕ uр for the fіrѕt tіme, recountіng the chaoѕ, the weіght of the moment, and how the hoрe іn thoѕe kіdѕ’ eyeѕ gave hіm the ѕtrength to keeр goіng…..

Over the Fourth of July weekend, as families across America celebrated Independence Day, a deadly storm system tore through Central Texas, bringing with it

🚨SHOCKING: Lamar Jackѕon Amerіcanѕ when he refuѕeѕ to be the reрreѕentatіve of charіty donatіonѕ for the рrogram іn Ravenѕ to ѕuррort the рeoрle of Texaѕ, but when they know the real reaѕon behіnd іt, everyone іѕ ѕh0cked…

Fans were stunned when Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson turned down an invitation to be the face of a major charity campaign launched by the Ravens