Kenneth Walker III.
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Kenneth Walker III news: The Seattle Seahawks and the running back are expected to part ways before the 2026-27 season.
The Kansas City Chiefs made one of the biggest signings during Day 1 of the free agent legal tampering period, acquiring running back Kenneth Walker III.
Early on Monday Walker agreed to a three-year, $45 million max contract with Kansas City. Walker’s base salary will be $14.35 million per year, with $28.7 million fully guaranteed. He is now the fourth-highest paid running back in the NFL. Running back was one of the Chiefs’ top roster needs entering free agency.
In 2025 Walker rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, also adding 31 receptions for 282 yards. During the postseason he averaged 104 rushing yards per game and totaled four touchdowns, culminating in being named MVP of Super Bowl LX. Now that the dust has settled a bit, many NFL experts have graded and shared their opinion on his blockbuster deal with the Chiefs.
ESPN’s Grade: C+
From Seth Walder: “He clearly fills a need for Kansas City, and you can easily understand why they want him. I do think there are some drawbacks. First, the regular-season numbers were good but not exceptional, and I’m wary of over-indexing on the playoffs. Second, while Walker’s ability as a runner is not questioned, that’s not the only job of a back. And the Seahawks made their preference for (RB Zach) Charbonnet on passing downs quite clear — Walker was on the field only for 20% of third-and-longs in the regular season. And third, running back is one of the least important positions in football, and the Chiefs are opting to spend here.”
Walker may not have gaudy stats, but his ability to break off big runs is the biggest reason why the Chiefs signed him. Defenses will have to respect that threat, which should open things up for the passing attack, a luxury that Kansas City’s offense hasn’t had in quite sometime.
Sports Illustrated’s Grade: B+
From Logan Lazarczyk: “Yes, Kansas City paid a premium price for the 25-year-old running back, but Walker III could unlock an explosive element in the running game that has been dormant for the last two seasons. Pass-catching is not a strength of the 2022 second-round pick, but the Chiefs can easily find a third-down back later down the line.”
People may be underestimating Walker’s receiving abilities. He has caught 82.6% of passes when targeted, and especially excels in the screen game. We all know that coach Andy Reid is a master of drawing up and calling screen passes.
“Walker has been productive as both a high-volume starter and as part of a committee, so he should fit with whatever Kansas City’s remaining running back plans might be. This past season, Walker tallied a career-high 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. He had another 417 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in the postseason. Walker, who turns 26 in October, should remain highly productive for the life of his new contract.”
Walker is in the prime of his career, and will be just 28 years old when his three-year contract with the Chiefs expires. He should be able to be the clear-cut workhorse back during that entire duration.
Fox Sports’ Grade: B
From Eric D. Williams: “Kansas City needed an upgrade to its running game from the backfield of Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. The Chiefs averaged just 106.6 rushing yards a contest last year, which was No. 25 in the NFL. And with Mahomes recovering from ACL surgery, the Chiefs now have a bell-cow running back to lean on in Walker.”
Walker could be the centerpiece of the Chiefs’ offense if Mahomes has to miss any time in the regular season. When he comes back, it will be a relief for him to be able to rely on a quality rushing attack as he gets back into the groove of things.