The Kansas City Chiefs have pursued offensive balance over the last few seasons. Patrick Mahomes led the passing attack, but the ground game lacked Andy Reid’s preferred punch. Kansas City has produced no consistent 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt’s 2017 rushing title. That gap lingered quietly under the team’s high-powered passing identity.
Rumor mill fires up again. This time, it targets Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. Seattle Seahawks running back nears free agency. League whispers place Kansas City at the front of the line.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
League reports show the Kansas City Chiefs eyeing Kenneth Walker III for free agency. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones says Kansas City tracked the Seattle Seahawks star to boost their run game.
According to [Jones,](https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/chiefs-interest-in-kenneth-walker-iii-comes-with-a-catch-11633937) the interest is real, but the price could complicate things.
> _“The Chiefs appear ready to strike at the running back position this month. They don’t think Jeremiyah Love will fall to them at No. 9 (…) so Kansas City won’t wait until the draft. The Chiefs may not be in the mix for a top-of-market player like Kenneth Walker III, but a player in that $8 million per year area could be one for them.”_
Kenneth Walker III’s buzz intensifies. A ChiefsTalk post on X cites Albert Breer’s report that Kansas City plans an aggressive free agency pursuit of the Seattle Seahawks running back. Adding fuel, forum insider “Pretty Rickey” resurfaced on a New York Giants message board to claim the Chiefs already lead the bidding war for Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.
The speculation comes after Seattle made the surprising decision to let the 25-year-old running back hit the open market rather than applying the franchise tag.
Kenneth Walker III’s buzz grows louder. A ChiefsTalk post on X quotes Albert Breer’s report that Kansas City targets the Seattle Seahawks running back in free agency. Forum insider “Pretty Rickey” resurfaced on a New York Giants message board to claim the Chiefs lead the bidding war for Super Bowl MVP Walker III.
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider recently acknowledged how difficult it is to lose key players to free agency.
Kansas City’s timing makes perfect sense. The Chiefs averaged just 106.6 rushing yards per game last season. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt failed to combine for 1,000 rushing yards. This exposes a glaring weakness in their explosive offense.
Money poses the biggest obstacle. Projections from Newsweek indicate that Kenneth Walker III earns about $13 million per year. The Chiefs hold $24.8 million in cap space (OverTheCap). Committing big funds to a running back forces tough roster decisions elsewhere.
Kansas City can revive its rushing attack by trading for Kenneth Walker III. That bold move would reshape the offense overnight. Rumors say the Chiefs stand ready to swing.