The Kansas City Chiefs have one less potential target at the running back position with the Detroit Lions trading David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. It is a bit frustrating to see the Chiefs miss out on what could've been a perfect target. However, another perfect option remains, and requires zero trade compensation, as impending free agent rusher Tyler Allgeier should shoot to the top of the team's wishlist. The Atlanta Falcons pushed the former starter into a backup role after one season, opting to draft Bijan Robinson and hand the offense to the incredibly talented back.
While this is understandable, it does ignore the fact that in Allgeier's lone season as a starter, the playmaker had 1,035 rushing yards on 4.9 yards per carry. This was despite playing under former head coach Arthur Smith, who had zero help at quarterback and ran an incredibly vanilla system. It is easy to imagine Allgeier surpassing 1,200 rushing yards in KC, playing with an incredibly talented quarterback in a stable offense.
The one concern that was noted earlier was the rising cost and whether it would fit within Kansas City's limited budget. It is hard to believe this isn't wiped away after Kansas City freed up cap space by making a cut of Jawaan Taylor clear and watching Montgomery come off the board. The Chiefs should both be a bit more willing to spend and have more ability to do so, given the news that Taylor is coming off the books.
Chiefs Have Perfect Target in Free Agency Needing to Sign Tyler Allgeier
According to Spotrac, Allgeier's market value should be in the range of a three-year, $17 million deal. The totality of that deal would be less than the cap hit Taylor was going to carry for the 2026 campaign alone. With this in mind, Allgeier is the perfect option to bring in and help take pressure off Mahomes early in the season. Part of what makes Allgeier so exciting is the fact that he has only been used as a starter for a lone season in his career.
This is a lot of mileage on Allgeier's legs, which have been saved, making the playmaker that much more of an attractive option to join the backfield in Kansas City. Fans won't have any problem falling in love with Allgeier's running style as the back features a punishing attack that seeks out contact and has enough speed to create big plays.
Brashard Smith would fit well with Allgeier as the smaller speed option if the back were able to take the next step in his career. Kansas City could also look to bring in a piece from this year's draft class to give the franchise three options at the position. Regardless of who is around him, it is clear that after Montgomery came off the board, the Chiefs should focus their attention on Tyler Allgeier.