The Kansas City Chiefs made one of the first big splashes in free agency as they reportedly agreed to a contract with running back Kenneth Walker on Monday morning. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, it’s a three-year, $43.05 million contract that could be worth up to $45 million through incentives and includes $28.7 million in guaranteed money to fill the starting role in the Chiefs’ backfield.
Walker, who was the MVP of Super Bowl LX last month and was rumored to be a target of the rival Denver Broncos, will look to fill an explosive element that has been lacking at the Chiefs’ RB1 spot the past few seasons. But he could also be part of Kansas City’s plans to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes as he rehabs from a torn ACL that ended last year’s campaign.
Kenneth Walker Should Help Chiefs’ Slow Play Patrick Mahomes’s Return in 2026
Mahomes’s health has been a major storyline since he tore his ACL in a Dec. 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. While his rehab has gone smoothly to public knowledge this spring, the Chiefs wouldn’t be wise to have Mahomes drop back and air it out, especially with questions at the tackle positions entering free agency.
To help Mahomes ease back into action, the Chiefs have looked to bolster their infrastructure around him. Travis Kelce’s return for a 14th season is part of the plan, as well as dynamic weapons at receiver, including Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy. But Walker could be the final piece of that puzzle.
Walker was one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL, ranking sixth with 33 runs of 10 yards or more. Pro Football Focus has also deemed Walker as an explosive playmaker, crediting the 25-year-old with 22 designed runs of 15 yards or more and a 36.3 percent breakaway percentage, defined as the percentage of total yardage generated on designed runs of 15 yards or more.
Those numbers hint that Walker should be able to create big plays on the ground. But it also suggests the Chiefs may continue to use a conservative approach in their passing game.
Mahomes’s average depth of target of 8.3 yards was his highest since 2020, per PFF. But it has also hovered around 7.0 between the 2023 (6.9 yards) and 2024 (7.0) seasons. With the Chiefs also not wanting to risk Mahomes against opposing pass rushes, it’s more likely Bienemy will target the short and intermediate game to get rid of the ball quickly and lean on the running game to produce big plays downfield.
There is a chance the Chiefs could allow Mahomes to take shots downfield, but it also might not be at the start of the season as Walker softens defensive fronts to give him the time he needs. Either way, the Walker signing should be a success, and few players should be happier about it than the Chiefs’ franchise quarterback.