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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II (right) hugs running back Isiah Pacheco (left) in Denver.
The Kansas City Chiefs have developed a deep wide receiver room, with talent and speed throughout their depth chart to complement quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
But the team has a much different situation in the backfield, lacking depth behind starter Isiah Pacheco and reportedly seeking more help. The Athletic’s Jesse Newell reported that the Chiefs are among a small group of teams scouring the trade market for a new running back before the season starts, with the team seeking to bolster the run game and take pressure off Mahomes.
Chiefs Need to Clean Up Running Game ‘Mess’
Newell noted that the Chiefs don’t have a solid second option at running back and haven’t found much help from recent addition Michael Wiley.
“Beyond starter Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs’ depth at running back is a mess,” Newell wrote. “Veteran Kareem Hunt, 30, is more of a role player as a short-yardage specialist who isn’t likely to help create the big plays. Carson Steele and Elijah Mitchell have yet to prove much in camp, and rookie Brashard Smith is playing as a hybrid receiver/running back after playing wideout earlier in his college career.”
Newell added that the team “still appears to be searching for upgrades” at running back, which could come either through the trade market or by picking up a player cut loose at the upcoming 53-man roster deadline.
Chiefs Could Target Former Pro Bowler
Reporter Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports believes the Chiefs could have a Pro Bowler in mind to boost their backfield. Benjamin broke down potential landing spots for five NFL running backs set to hit the trade market, predicting Kansas City will swing a deal for Dallas Cowboys back Miles Sanders.
“Once a Pro Bowl playmaker for the rival Philadelphia Eagles, Sanders has struggled to separate from a slew of others in Dallas’ remade backfield, including Javonte Williams and rookie Jaydon Blue,” Benjamin wrote. “That’s partly due to a summer knee injury. He’s been something of a stop-and-start option for years now. Still, it’s possible another team will value his 56 career starts, plucking him from behind Williams to fill a backup gig opened by injury.”
Sanders could be a good fit for the Chiefs, especially in a backup role. He has proven to be a versatile running back, rushing for 4,345 total yards with 23 touchdowns in six NFL seasons while adding 175 receptions for 1,244 yards and four more touchdowns.
He is coming off a career-worst season, however, rushing for just 205 total yards with the Carolina Panthers.
The Chiefs could also lean more heavily on Pacheco, who said he dropped weight to add more speed this season.
“Just going back to 216, 4.37 Isiah Pacheco-style,” the running back said, via the Kansas City Star.
Pacheco said he drifted away from his goal weight while missing a nine-week stretch last season, which had cut into his speed.
“You’re out there working your tail off and just sweating every day and not eating enough to get the weight back,” Pacheco said. “There’s not going to be as much time to gain weight during the season, rather than the offseason and the whole program that they have here for us.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
