Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell
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Could Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell be a fit for the Kansas City Chiefs?
With NFL free agency still weeks away, the Kansas City Chiefs are likely leaving very few stones unturned. Projected fits are all over the place, but only those within the building at 1 Arrowhead Drive know who’s on the proverbial board once the floodgates open.
There won’t be a shortage of holes to patch up. General manager Brett Veach has his work cut out for him, making March and beyond absolutely critical. On the offensive side of the ball, the running back spot could use some improvement.
One free-agent-to-be, in particular, rises to above some of the rest.
Could Chiefs Be a Good Landing Spot for Kenneth Gainwell?
In a February 13 story for Bleacher Report, Gary Davenport dove into a list of overlooked free agents teams should prioritize in March and beyond. Many intriguing names are hitting the open market, putting contenders and rebuilding teams like on notice.
Davenport believes former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell could deliver “solid production at a discount” for a team like Kansas City.
“At just 5’9″ and 200 pounds, Gainwell is on the small side for an every-down back,” Davenport wrote. “But more NFL teams than not are using backfield committees now anyway, and he offers teams a versatile player who has proved he can produce who should be available for a reasonable cost.”
Gainwell, a 2021 fifth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles, just turned in the best season of his NFL tenure. In addition to setting a career-high mark with 4.7 yards per rush, he reached new personal bests in receiving targets (85), receptions (73), yards (486) and scores (3). His 5.5 yards per touch set a new pace for his five-year career, potentially earning him some coin in the process.
The increased workload didn’t make Gainwell less effective. 2025-26 was the first time he eclipsed 2.0 yards after contact per attempt, notching 2.1. Additionally, he broke 14 tackles and achieved 7.2 yards after catch per reception — both career-highs. Pro Football Focus graded him as their 24th-best halfback out of 55 qualified players.
Projections for Gainwell’s free agency vary. PFF has him landing a two-year deal worth $8 million. Spotrac believes he’s worth $3M per year, with Over The Cap slotting in at $4.6M.
Looking at Kansas City’s Updated Running Back Depth
For a team like the Chiefs, well over the salary cap as things stand, bargain hunting might have to be the answer. As nice as a Kenneth Walker, Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, Rico Dowdle or Javonte Williams would be, it isn’t a slam-dunk financially. Allotting premium resources there limits where else improvement can take place. It’s something Veach must consider.
With that in mind, perhaps Gainwell could be a huge help. After all, while Kansas City ranked seventh in EPA per rush this past season, much of that was context-dependent. For starters, quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled a ton. On top of that, veteran Kareem Hunt inflated the numbers due to short-yardage and late-down success. The team sat 20th in yards per attempt and 25th in overall rushing yards, serving as a more accurate reflection.
A lack of big plays hurt the Chiefs’ offense. Out of 49 running backs to record 100+ carries, per SumerSports, Hunt ranked 47th in explosive rush rate at 3.07%. 2022 seventh-round draft pick Isiah Pacheco wasn’t much better at 3.39%, good for 46th. Both players are set to become free agents this offseason, and only Hunt has a real path to being a valuable contributor in 2026-27.
That leaves rising rookie Brashard Smith as one of the lone options. He’s under contract for three more years, but he didn’t do anything in the run game to inspire confidence in his debut campaign. He mustered all of 3.4 yards per tote, instead standing out as a pass catcher by posting a a 71.4% reception rate and 6.9 yards per haul-in. He’s a nice piece to have, but it’d be nothing short of foolish to make him a featured player moving forward.
The Chiefs require a proven player to pick up some of the slack. Unlike some of the aforementioned names, Gainwell could be just that without breaking the bank. Add in some special teams versatility, and you get a tailor-made fit for Kansas City.