After getting eliminated from playoff contention, the Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of questions to answer this offseason. Figuring out why they came up short of their 10th straight trip to the playoffs is just one question on the board. The future of Travis Kelce, coupled with Patrick Mahomes’s rehab from a torn ACL suffered in last week’s loss to the Chargers, is also a major concern going into 2026.
A little lower on the list is the fate of Isiah Pacheco. A seventh-round steal out of Rutgers in the 2022 draft, Pacheco has been more than the Chiefs could have asked for during his four seasons in Kansas City. But a recent dip in production over the past two years could have him auditioning for a new team over the final three weeks.
Fortunately for Pacheco, the Chiefs’ final three opponents will likely look to upgrade their running back position this offseason. It gives Pacheco a chance to showcase his talents and give each team a front-row seat for a player who could rise to the top of their free agent board this March.
Week 15 vs. Tennessee Titans
The argument could be made that the Titans need everything as they meet Kansas City with a 2-12 record this season. Despite all the flaws, their backfield has become one of the more glaring issues based on the performances from Tony Pollard.
Pollard has come alive with 265 yards and three touchdowns over the past two weeks, but that could be him auditioning for another team. Before the recent explosion, Pollard reached the 70-yard mark just once over the first 12 games, and with a new coaching staff coming in and Pollard ready to hit the free agent market on what could be back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, it makes sense if both parties decided to part ways.
Should that happen, Pacheco may have a familiar face in the Titans' front office. General Manager Mike Borgonzi was part of the Chiefs’ front office for 14 seasons, working his way up to assistant general manager before he was hired by Tennessee last spring.
With Tyjae Spears not showing much in the backup role and Julius Chestnut showing even less, a new running back makes sense. Borgonzi’s ties to Pacheco could also lead him to make a cheap addition and give Pacheco a reason to run even harder in Week 15.
Week 16 vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos don’t have a franchise running back at the moment, but their history shows they’re willing to fill the void with a cheap solution. One year ago, the Broncos took a chance on JK Dobbins, who was coming in with a riddled injury history and a 2024 performance with the Los Angeles Chargers that appeared to be fool’s gold.
That gamble paid off for a while with 153 carries for 772 yards and four touchdowns. But a season-ending Lisfranc injury to his foot signals the furthest that gamble could go, and Dobbins isn’t guaranteed to return next season. In addition, Sean Payton loves to add talent at the position, claiming Cody Schrader recently to fill his No. 4 role on the depth chart.
This means that even if the Broncos trust R.J. Harvey to take over the RB1 role in his second season, they’re likely to add some insurance alongside Tyler Badie. At the very least, adding Pacheco would bring some veteran competition for the young duo in training camp and allow Pacheco to follow the same path that Jamaal Charles used to end his career, going to Denver after nine years in Kansas City.
Week 17 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Like the Titans, the Raiders need plenty of help as they finish the season. The Las Vegas Raiders are 2-12 this year, and aside from personnel changes, they may also decide to part with 74-year-old Pete Carroll after just one season.
As Carroll’s hiring shows, the Raiders love big names, and Las Vegas grabbed another one when they took Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in April’s draft. While Jeanty has been disappointing with 3.5 yards per carry in his rookie season, the options behind him aren’t much better with Raheem Mostert, Zamir White, and Dylan Laube combining to form the league’s worst rushing attack at 70.8 yards per game.
With the league’s next-worst rushing attack at 87.4 yards per game, the Raiders would be wise to keep their options open – especially if a new coach is leading them in 2026. While it’s too early to slap the bust label on Jeanty, it would be great insurance if anything were to happen, and the Raiders know what Pacheco can do, as he’s scored five touchdowns in six career games against Vegas and went over 50 yards in half of those games.
If Pacheco blows up against the Raiders again – or against any of these teams – the Chiefs RB could strengthen his market next spring. If that happens, the odds of him leaving Kansas City will grow even stronger, and he could wind up determining his new home in the final three weeks.