The Kansas City Chiefs desperately need to fix the running game. They ranked 25th in the league last season with 106.6 rushing yards per game, and none of their running backs came even close to 1,000 rushing yards.
Some of that had to do with subpar run-blocking, but they didn't have much talent at the position, either. That's why they might've been tempted to make a run at Atlanta Falcons free agent RB Tyler Allgeier.
However, that might not be the case anymore. According to Falcons insider Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Allgeier and his camp want way more money than the Chiefs might be willing -- or even able -- to pay him.
The Chiefs Can't Pursue Tyler Allgeier at His Rumored Asking Price
"Atlanta’s backup running back will be seeking a contract in the neighborhood of three years, $22 million this offseason," Kendall wrote. "He earned a total of nearly $4 million from his rookie contract and was pushed to a reserve role by Robinson in 2023, but he still has 676 carries for 2,876 yards over his four seasons in Atlanta."
Allgeier is a tackle-breaking, versatile running back whose ceiling is clearly tapped by sharing the backfield with a superstar like Bijan Robinson. That said, he may not be worth that type of money in free agency.
Spotrac initially projected his market value at around $2 million a year. They now have him projected to earn a contract worth $17 million, over three seasons, which is much less than what his camp was, but still too much for the Chiefs at $5.7 million a year.
The Chiefs will probably go after a bigger name in free agency if they don't draft Jeremiyah Love at No. 9. But if that's not the case, they can get a cheaper option in Najee Harris or Kenneth Gainwell, both projected to make $2.9 million a year.
According to Over The Cap, the Chiefs are still $3.29 million over the salary cap, even after restructuring Patrick Mahomes' contract. They will make other moves to get under the cap, but spending that type of money on Allgeier might not be the wisest course of action.
Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will look to re-establish the run and fix the running game upon his return to Kansas City, and he will probably have several candidates to help him with that. Unfortunately, Allgeier may have priced himself out of contention.