The Walker addition also doesn’t change the fact that the Chiefs will be looking to run more downhill in 2026. General manager Brett Veach hinted at this in February during the NFL combine, saying the team needed to lean more on its interior three offensive linemen (Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith) in attempting to “impose your will on an opposing team’s defense.”
The statement suggests the Chiefs want to be more aggressive in their run game, likely shifting from being one of the NFL’s top run-pass option (RPO) teams to focusing on schemes that more often get run blockers downfield.
Regardless of how Walker is deployed, Reid shared excitement Tuesday about adding his playmaking to the backfield. The Chiefs struggled to create explosive plays in 2025, mustering just one 20-plus-yard carry from a running back.
“He adds another element to the offense, another something you can throw at the defense, which is important,” Reid said. “And he’s legit. He can take it the distance every time he touches the ball. There’s that threat.”