The Kansas City Chiefs disappointed many fans as they did not take a running back early in the draft, and it seemed they were content to wait until the very end to get their guy in the backfield. While fans desperately waited, Brett Veach got aggressive yet again and added star SMU running back Brashard Smith after trading up to pick No. 228 with the New England Patriots.
Smith was my 14th running back in the class and he ranked at 123 on my NFL draft big board. I loved what I saw from Smith in the pass game, and he will provide significant value playing with fellow seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco. The Chiefs' addition sets them up to have a great three-headed monster with Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Smith out of the backfield in 2025.
Smith is an electric athlete who ran a sub-4.4 40-yard dash and has a great ability to catch the ball as well as block in the pass game. Smith has great power out of his legs and his ability to make hard cuts as well as explode into someone's chest is impressive. The Chiefs were looking for a running back who could play in the pass game and make an impact, as that has been the biggest weakness of Isiah Pacheco's game so far this season.
This offseason, I compared Smith to J.D. McKissic, another top receiving back who made a long and successful career out of his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. Smith will find play time early in his career, potentially even on day one, as he has all the talent to produce in the NFL. His grit and willingness to get his nose dirty in the pass game will help him find the field and be very successful in the NFL.
I look forward to seeing Smith in the Chiefs' backfield and his fit in the Kansas City offense is perfect. I think it is likely we will see him start as a pass-catching and blocking back who will serve as a sixth blocker or leak-out receiver in the pass game. But with his ability to explode out from his stance, it is more than possible that Smith finds more play time than even I expect. The Chiefs went out with a bang and made a great addition on a true playmaker for what is likely their last pick of the 2025 draft.