The Kansas City Chiefs started the offseason with a bang. They broke the bank to lure reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to Missouri, just weeks after torching the New England Patriots in the biggest game of his career.
Unsurprisingly, that move stole most of the headlines, and rightfully so. For the first time since rookie Kareem Hunt, it looked like the Chiefs would have a 1,000-yard rusher and a truly reliable running back after years of underwhelming production at the position.
However, as much as everyone raved about this move, Walker isn't the only new face in the running back corps who might be poised for a big season. As ESPN's Aaron Schatz pointed out, Emari Demercado might also be crucial to this team in 2026.
Emari Demercado can be a true difference-maker for the Chiefs
"The Chiefs will probably have to depend a little bit on their backups, and the top guy is Demercado, an ex-Cardinal. Similar to Walker, Demercado is good for some explosive runs and had a career average of 6.5 yards per carry over three seasons with Arizona. He also has 50 career receptions," wrote Schatz.
Demercado has never been the most prominent name in the league, so it's understandable that his addition has been somewhat overlooked. That said, he stepped up big time when the Cardinals needed him to due to injuries.
Also, he provides something that Walker and other Chiefs running backs don't shine in: Pass protection. Rookie fifth-round pick Emmett Johnson is promising, but that's a clear area of improvement, and they didn't seem to trust Brashard Smith too much last season, who is undersized in that aspect anyway. Walker is a true bellcow, but pass-protection has never been his strength.
Demercado entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of TCU, but he still managed to survive in the desert for three seasons. Pass-protection is an invaluable skill for running backs in today's game, and that's also paramount in Andy Reid's scheme with Patrick Mahomes under center.
It's also worth noting that, just like Schatz pointed out, Walker has been in a committee for most of his career. As run-heavy as the Seattle Seahawks have always been, they also turned to Zach Charbonnet for passing downs and short-yardage situations. The Chiefs must do something similar if they want to keep Walker fresh and healthy.
For the first time in years, the Chiefs may finally be able to rely on the running game. Eric Bieniemy is back in town, and he's the ultimate running back guru, not to mention that they have a much-improved running back room compared to last season.
Patrick Mahomes needs more help for the passing game, but it doesn't seem that the team is too eager to do something about that. Fortunately, he has a solid one-two punch that projects to give him a hand out of the backfield.
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