Kenneth Walker III hasn't even played a snap for the Kansas City Chiefs yet and he's already turning heads.
The Chiefs finished 2025 at 6-11, their worst season since 2012, and the front office moved fast to address it. Signing Walker was a big part of that response. He agreed to a three-year deal worth a reported $43.05 million with $28.7 million guaranteed, one of the richest contracts at the position in free agency history.
The running back recently posted an offseason photo wearing a Chiefs training vest, and the reaction online was immediate. Fans couldn't stop talking about how much bigger he looked, with his arms and shoulders drawing most of the attention.
"Bro big as hell!" one fan commented.
"Mahomes finally gets a bell cow RB who looks like he can run through walls," another shared on X.
"😤😤😤 bout to run all over the whole league," one fan wrote.
"Best in the game," another added.
"The first thing I noticed is his guns. How much can he bench press?" one fan posted on X.
"The Chiefs are going to get on the field with a beast next season 🔥," another noted.
The excitement makes sense given where Kansas City is coming from.
Kenneth Walker III's Role With Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs
Walker spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks as a run-first back, averaging under 40 receptions and fewer than 300 receiving yards per season. Kansas City operates differently.
Running backs have been a consistent part of the passing game there, with Darrel Williams, Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco each putting up 40-catch seasons over the past five years. Two of those came under new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is back with the Chiefs this season.
Walker has reportedly been working with Mahomes this offseason as he prepares to take on a bigger role as a receiver out of the backfield. How much that usage grows will be something to watch but the fit makes sense on both sides.
Running behind Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey and Kingsley Suamataia, Walker also steps into a strong blocking situation. The Chiefs are counting on him to take some of the load off Mahomes and give the offense a genuine ground threat again
