![\"Brashard](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25041397-scaled-e1751315896450-1200x800.jpg\")
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The Kansas City Chiefs found success late in the draft before, with seventh-round running back\u00a0Isiah Pacheco\u00a0a prime example.<\/p>\n
With training camp less than one month away, Chiefs rookie Brashard Smith could follow suit. The Chiefs selected Smith in the seventh round, too.<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s Adam Teicher picked Smith as the \u201cunder-the-radar\u201d player who could make a \u201csignificant impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJudging from how he was utilized in offseason practices, the Chiefs have plans for Smith, a seventh-round draft pick out of SMU,\u201d Teicher wrote on June 30. \u201cSmith was a wide receiver in college before moving to running back for his final season, and the Chiefs showcased his versatility by getting him the ball out of the backfield, from the slot and split out wide. Smith ran a 4.39 40 at the combine, so he will fit in with a group of other fast skill players.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The rookie tallied 1,335 yards and 14 touchdowns on 235 carries in 2024, adding another 327 yards nd 4 TDs on 39 receptions. His pre-draft profile highlighted his size, but also his dynamic ability as a dual-threat.<\/p>\n Smith checked in at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. As such, he could be best utilized in a complementary role to begin his career.<\/p>\n \u201cDisplays some hesitation in his early reads but is slippery over the first two levels, using quick cuts and spin moves to elude tacklers. He has a feel for finding soft spots along the interior but has average speed to turn the corner on wide runs,\u201d Zierlein wrote. \u201cHe could get pushed up a full round thanks to his ball skills and ability to run routes in space. Smith shined as a kick returner at Miami and will likely get that chance in the pros as a third-down back with room for development.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Fortunately, the\u00a0Chiefs have the RB room\u00a0to do just that.<\/p>\n Smith joins Pacheco, as well as fellow incumbent\u00a0Kareem Hunt\u00a0and former San Francisco 49ers tailback\u00a0Elijah Mitchell.<\/p>\n Reserve runners\u00a0Keaontay Ingram\u00a0and the versatile\u00a0Carson Steele\u00a0are also on hand as needed.<\/p>\n The Chiefs ranked 16th in rushing attempts and 22nd in rushing yards last season. Having\u00a0Patrick Mahomes\u00a0under center means the team will lean on the pass more often than not.<\/p>\n Still, it will be vital for the Chiefs to take more and more pressure off the QB as he ages.<\/p>\n Mahomes, the No. 10 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, turns 30 in September. He has been durable, missing just two games in the past four seasons combined. Both of those were season finales (2023 and 2024).<\/p>\n However, the Chiefs have experienced what life is like without Mahomes.<\/p>\n Moreover, there remain questions about the offense if 15 is not the one receiving the snap for an extended period.<\/p>\n Bailey Zappe,\u00a0Chris Oladokun, and\u00a0Gardner Minshew\u00a0are the Chiefs\u2019 other QBs.<\/p>\n Minshew and Zappe both have starting experience, and Oladokun has been in the system since 2022.<\/p>\n None of them come close to replicating what Mahomes can do when the Chiefs\u2019 offense is working at its best.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Kansas City Chiefs found success late in the draft before, with seventh-round running back\u00a0Isiah Pacheco\u00a0a prime example. With training camp less than one month away, Chiefs… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":74913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"\nChiefs Should Lean on RB Room<\/h3>\n
![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/06\/USATSI_25558019-scaled-e1751316002374-1024x577.jpg\")