The Kansas City Chiefs made one of the biggest splashes of free agency. Signing Kenneth Walker III was the type of big-name addition they had to do to bring their running game back to life, especially with Eric Bieniemy returning as offensive coordinator.
The Chiefs haven't had a 1,000-yard running back since rookie Kareem Hunt in 2017. Ironically, nearly a decade later and a multi-year stint in Cleveland, Hunt was also part of the team's struggles to get anything going in the running game last season, which led to Walker's arrival.
That's why it's not much of a surprise to see that he's still unemployed this deep into the offseason. He's aging, inefficient, and has a history of off-field issues. If anything, it would be shocking to see Hunt receive any kind of new deal.
This might be the end of the line for Kareem Hunt's career
Kareem Hunt's career could've been over years ago, and not even because of his scandal. The Cleveland Browns reached out to him as an injury replacement, and he played just well enough to get himself a couple of new deals.
Last season, he didn't do much to help his case. He averaged a pedestrian 3.7 yards per carry, often running into contact instead of away from it. Granted, the Chiefs' run-blocking left plenty to be desired, but Hunt lost his twitchiness and explosiveness, and he won't get much better at this point in his career.
Of course, he's still a goal-line specialist. Hunt has scored 15 touchdowns in the past couple of seasons, including eight last year. However, there's not much use for a 31-year-old back who can only do so much.
The Chiefs did the right thing by showing him the door and spending big bucks on a younger, leaner, more explosive, and more efficient replacement. Bieniemy is a true running back guru, and it's exciting to see what he can do with Walker, who has been in a committee for most of his career and will finally get to be a true bell cow.
They also signed Emari Demercado and added Emmett Johnson to the mix, all while second-year pro Brashard Smith handles pass-catching duties. All in all, this RB room overhaul could be crucial for Andy Reid's team in 2026.
Patrick Mahomes is coming off the first major injury of his career, and he may not be as mobile early on in the season. Even if he is, they must keep him out of harm's way, and establishing the run again after years of inefficiency will be crucial for that.
As for Hunt, it's hard to believe he'll get a new deal at this point in the offseason. Even with a projected market value of just $1.9 million, it might take a string of injuries for any team to even consider getting him on the phone.
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