The Kansas City Chiefs made the expected decision to revamp their offensive backfield in the offseason. After an underwhelming rushing attack contributed to the overall disappointment of the 2025 Chiefs, the front office has begun aggressively making changes to the running back room. Isiah Pacheco left for the Detroit Lions, and Kareem Hunt remains unsigned. In their place, the Chiefs made a big splash by signing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. They quickly followed that up by signing Emari Demercado, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals.
The Chiefs ranked in the bottom half of the league in rushing yards, first downs, touchdowns, and yards per carry last season. So, reinforcements didn't come as a surprise to anybody. Yet, it's safe to assume that Brashard Smith wasn't particularly excited about the level of competition GM Brett Veach brought in.
Brashard Smith Is Officially on Thin Ice After Emari Demercado's Arrival
Demercado's arrival especially puts Smith on notice. Heading into his fourth year in the NFL, Demercado is basically the more polished version of Smith. He was used similarly to how Smith was during his rookie season in Kansas City. The 27-year-old rusher specialized in big plays and was heavily involved in the passing game despite spending most of the season as the RB3. After averaging 9.3 yards per carry in 2024, Demercado ran for 7.1 yards per carry last season, one of the best marks in the NFL. He was also involved in special teams, trusted with kick returns six times over the last two seasons. In his three returns in 2025, he averaged 28.7 yards.
Smith was an important part of the Chiefs' return game last season and was expected to remain in that role moving forward. Demercado's presence on the team changes that calculation. Plus, Smith is still learning the ins and outs of the position, as he has limited experience at running back. The former seventh-round pick spent the first few seasons of his collegiate career as a wide receiver before switching to the backfield in his final year at SMU. His experience as a pass-catcher has served him well in his rookie campaign, but the opportunities may be harder to come by after the Demercado signing.
Chiefs fans were clamoring to see more of Smith last year, especially as the season got derailed. Yet, the former SMU standout was an afterthought in the running game until the season finale, when he ran for a season-high 56 yards against the Raiders. The coaching staff didn't trust him enough over Hunt and Pacheco. Considering that Walker and Demercado should be upgrades over them, Smith's path to more touches, or even a roster spot, may be a difficult one. He has a lot to prove between now and the training camp.