The Kansas City Chiefs turned heads on Thursday with a surprise report that they were looking at acquiring a running back via trade, whether that's someone like the Houston Texans' Dameon Pierce, the Washington Commanders' Brian Robinson Jr., or even one of the Jacksonville Jaguars' pair of studs in Travis Etienne Jr. or Tank Bigsby.
No matter what, it's hard to look at this news and not think it's an indictment on the current position group. Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Elijah Mitchell, Brashard Smith, and Carson Steele all have promise, though no one's roster spot is secure aside from Pacheco's.
Unfortunately, the news that Kansas City is trying to add a running back all but guarantees that a pair of players won't make the final roster.
Sources: Teams making calls in search of running back additions include the Saints, Browns and Chiefs.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) August 21, 2025
Two Chiefs RBs on Way Out of KC After Latest Trade News
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Chiefs are among a handful of teams pursuing a running back trade ahead of the preseason finale.
That's a surprise announcement and suggests that the organization isn't happy with it's current group. If that's true and the report is accurate, then two players in particular are on the chopping block: Mitchell and Smith.
Both are new acquisitions, with Mitchell being signed on a one-year deal and Smith being drafted in the seventh round. They each have their own exciting talents, yet neither is going to threaten Pacheco or Hunt for legitimate first-team touches in the 2025 campaign. Next year, when neither player is under contract, could be a different story, but for now, this is a sign that head coach Andy Reid doesn't have faith in the duo as a collective.
It looks like Mitchell is on the outskirts based on training camp reports, and that Smith serves a more dynamic role. Even still, it's a storyline to watch. Whomever performs better in the final preseason game may have the advantage, which makes Friday night against the Chicago Bears even more important.
We'll see what happens, but this is perhaps the most significant storyline for Chiefs fans to watch. Pacheco and Hunt are locks to make the 53-man roster, but there are questions after that. Every player has a chance to earn their keep, and Kansas City's brass will be ardently watching the position group to see who stands out.