The Kansas City Chiefs are making one of the first big splashes of NFL free agency in 2026, agreeing to terms with former Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.
It's a three-year deal for Walker worth up to $45 million, with more than $28 million in guaranteed money, per multiple reports.
That average of $15 million per year puts Walker among the top five highest-paid running backs in the league, pending any other free-agent deals this offseason.
Walker had a dominant playoff run for the Seahawks last season that culminated with an MVP performance in their Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots. The former second-round pick out of Michigan State took on an increased role after a knee injury sidelined Zach Charbonnet late in the season, and he quite literally ran with it, putting up huge numbers while helping the Seahawks take home their second Lombardi Trophy.
The Chiefs have had some solid role players in their backfield over the past couple of seasons, but Isiah Pacheco has struggled to stay healthy, and Kareem Hunt is more useful as a backup. Neither player has proven they can be a full-time featured back, and both have limitations that prevent them from being the kind of complete back that Walker has proven he can be as both a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.
Heading into this offseason, it was clear the Chiefs needed to load up on more weapons to help Patrick Mahomes and bring their offense back to the level it was a few years ago. One way to do that is by bolstering the running game with a big-play presence like Walker.
Speaking of Mahomes, the star quarterback is pretty happy about the news, quickly taking to social media to voice his approval:
This move will also have an impact on how Kansas City approaches the early rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Many early projections had the Chiefs in the market for Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round, but the addition of Walker should allow them to address other needs with that selection.
Along with the expected return of tight end Travis Kelce, the first few hours of the 2026 NFL league year are turning out to be a big win for Mahomes and the Chiefs as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign and get back into the Super Bowl hunt.
