Can the Chiefs New Running Backs Reignite Kansas City’s Offense?
Through the signing of Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III from the Seattle Seahawks and Emari Demercado from the Arizona Cardinals, the Kansas City Chiefs spared no expense when it comes to rebuilding their running back room. As a team, the Chiefs finished just 25th in the league in rushing yards per game at 106.6 and 20th in yards per attempt at four-point-two. In fact, Kansas City did not have a single running back average four or more yards per attempt. Their leading rushers were Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, who finished with 611 and 462 yards, respectively. Although the Chiefs relied on both players during deep playoff runs, it was evident that a change was necessary.
With that in mind, there are a few changes that Kansas City could’ve made that are better than bringing in the reigning Super Bowl MVP. In the biggest game of his life, Walker totaled 135 yards on the ground and 26 more through the air, helping the Seahawks lift their second Lombardi Trophy and becoming the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP since Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII. For the season, Walker finished with a career-high of 1,309 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns. A performance worthy of a $43-million-dollar contract over three years.
Demercado, on the other hand, has not quite reached the same heights as Walker has. Demercado ended his three-year stint with the Cardinals with just 1,143 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, meaning his production over three years is very similar to Walker's last year. However, his 7.1 yards per carry showcase his potential as a home-run hitter. Although the Chiefs signed him to just a one-year contract, so if he does not pan out, it will not be an enormous loss.
This brings the discussion back to the ultimate question: can Walker and Demercado rekindle the spark of the Chiefs' offense? They certainly have the potential to. Head Coach Andy Reid has shown a remarkable ability to get the most out of his team’s talent in years past, and there is little reason to believe it would be impossible for him to reach into his bag of tricks again. He’s going to need to in order to compete with the new heavy hitters that have emerged in the AFC West and the rest of the conference. A tough Denver Broncos team, a recovering Los Angeles Chargers team, and a new-look Las Vegas Raiders team are going to pose a major challenge to them. Walker and Demercado are going to need to step up if the Kansas City Chiefs want any shot at returning to the top of the mountain.
