The Wild Card of the Chiefs Running Back Room
As the first week of training camp rolls on, it is clear that the Kansas City Chiefs are reloading for yet another run at the Lombardi Trophy. The Chiefs, just like each of the 31 other franchises of the NFL, are getting their first looks at new players, new concepts, and new hopes for the upcoming season. You can tell a lot about a team by what they prioritize early on in the first practices of the year, and it's clear that the decision makers in KC want to bring their offense back to its famously electric former form. The very first pass of training camp was a massive deep bomb for a huge completion, the first sign that the Chiefs would make a huge push to reliably restore the deep ball to their offensive schemes.
However, it is also clear that the Chiefs are trying to open up their offense beyond the arm of Patrick Mahomes. It is no secret that the Chiefs have had a pedestrian ground game for the past several years. This offseason saw a definite commitment from Kansas City’s front office to address the issues in the run game, both in the draft and free agency. As of this moment, the front end of the Chiefs’ RB depth chart looks to be a repeat of last year. Isiah Pacheco will, almost certainly, retain his position as the starting halfback, with the veteran Kareem Hunt right behind him. Meanwhile, Brashard Smith, the Chiefs’ seventh-round pick from the draft this year, seems perfectly suited to be a gadget play receiving back that Andy Reid’s offenses have loved to use in the past, a la Jerick McKinnon.
This leaves one offseason acquisition in a peculiar spot. Elijah Mitchell, who spent the last four seasons with the 49ers and even saw action against the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, now finds himself in a crowded running back room in KC. Mitchell had an outstanding rookie season with the Niners back in 2021, but has been plagued with injuries ever since, even missing the entirety of last season. On a one-year "prove it” deal with the Chiefs this season, Mitchell is battling for a final roster spot with both seasoned HBs who are familiar with the Chiefs’ system, as well as rookies already scouted for a particular role in the Kansas City backfield. Numerous outlets have predicted over the past few months that Mitchell would likely be cut before the start of the regular season.
Such a prediction may have been premature, however. Mitchell has been getting several looks in the first week of training camp and, most notably, was the second-string back in the Chiefs’ practice this morning. Mitchell is a player with a lot of upside, if his rookie year is any indication. He is 27, only about a year older than Pacheco and about three years younger than Hunt. Mitchell has also had all of last season to heal and rehab his body. While he certainly faces an uphill battle of circumstances in camp, the opportunity is definitely there for Mitchell to stand out and carve himself a final roster spot in KC. As training camp rolls on and the preseason arrives, Elijah Mitchell is one player that Chiefs fans would be wise to keep an eye on.
