Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III's signing has been the biggest move of the Kansas City Chiefs' offseason so far. Walker's presence gives the Chiefs a legitimate No. 1 running back who can take pressure off Patrick Mahomes as he returns from the first long-term injury of his career.
But with all the focus on Walker in the Chiefs' backfield, second-year RB Brashard Smith has been flying under the radar.
There is no question that Smith is heading into April on a high. Looking at free agency fallout, the only other option the Chiefs brought in behind Walker is former Arizona Cardinal Emari Demercado, who went the 2025 season without scoring a rushing touchdown.
Without any other threats added, Smith's offseason is going better than expected, potentially putting him on a path to compete for some RB2 opportunities.
Brashard Smith's Outlook Is Trending Up
It was fair at the end of the season to wonder if Smith's time with the organization could be limited to his rookie season. The former 2025 seventh-rounder was held to just 44 carries in 17 appearances, and it's safe to say that his 3.4 yards per attempt didn't exactly knock any fans' socks off.
Nonetheless, it looks like the Chiefs still have some faith in Smith; otherwise, they would've signed someone else beyond Walker and Demercado.
As things currently stand, Smith is at least the third back and will clearly have a chance to change this throughout camp and the preseason. He fits well alongside Walker and offers a consistent speed option out of the backfield. His history as a former wideout could also get him on the field more often.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's return is also another reason why Smith's future looks promising.
As the Chicago Bears' RBs coach last season, Bieniemy coached D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai to rack up 1,870 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. If he can have a similar impact on the Chiefs' backfield, Smith could be looking at a career year this fall.
Although another RB could be added through the draft, Smith is being given a clear opportunity to compete for the RB2 spot with Demercado. It's now up to him to capitalize on every opportunity he sees between offseason workouts, training camp, and the preseason action. If he can do so, he'll likely be looking at a much bigger role in the Chiefs' offense moving forward.
But, if not, and he keeps showing lackluster production when the ball is in his hands, the Chiefs might have to reconsider if Smith is long for Kansas City.