Patrick Mahomes is working his way back from the first major injury of his career. However, the Kansas City Chiefs are operating as if he’ll be healthy for the start of the season.
Mahomes is at the center of every offseason move they make. Of course, that includes signing reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to bolster their running game.
Walker hasn’t been a Chief for long, but it looks like he has already gotten off to the races with his new quarterback. When asked whether they had been in touch, Walker revealed his three-word description for Mahomes:
“We talked on the phone. He’s a real genuine person,” Walker said, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor.
More than a genuine person, Mahomes is well aware of how badly the Chiefs needed Walker. They haven’t had a 1,000-yard running back since 2017, and their 106.6 rushing yards per game ranked 25th in the league last season.
That’s why the Chiefs didn’t hesitate to chase the biggest name in the running back market. Walker also opened up about that, raving about how good it felt to be wanted:
“You feel appreciated and wanted. Everybody wants that,” Walker said. “I’m just trying to get another one (Super Bowl ring).”
Walker has always been a workhorse running back. His production has rarely been affected despite spending most of his career in a running back committee, so his numbers should trend upward now that he’ll be the featured back on Eric Bieniemy’s offense.
The Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, and they had to go big-name hunting.
And even if Mahomes can’t get much — if any — work done with him just now, it’s never too early to get to know one another, talk shop, and get a jump start on the partnership.
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