What Kansas City’s 2026 Fifth Round Pick Out of Nebraska Could Add to Their Running Game
In the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson with the 161st overall pick. Johnson was the first offensive player chosen in a Chiefs draft dominated at the front end by defensive prospects. The Cornhusker’s addition to the KC running back room, chosen before a wide receiver, could be a further indication of the offense head coach Andy Reid and newly rehired offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy plan to execute throughout the 2026 season. An offense that is much more centered around the run than in previous Reid-coached, pass-heavy Kansas City teams.
The signing of Super Bowl LX MVP, former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, signaled a commitment to the run, with a financial commitment to Walker that the Chiefs haven’t made with any other running back in their history. With the three-year $43.05 million contract with $28.7 million guaranteed, Reid and company seem to be handing over the keys to yet another iteration of a Chiefs offense to the ex-Seahawk. Now that there’s a bell-cow running back at Arrowhead, Kansas City has seen fit to add a reinforcement to the running back room with Johnson. The Nebraska product has the toolkit to keep the ball moving upfield whenever called upon to do so.
With a burst of acceleration that sends him through gaps in the blink of an eye and good balance after contact, Johnson has good vision and is a decisive runner, predominantly running north-south. Although he possesses bursts of speed, Johnson’s top-end running is average, running a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. At five-foot-10, 202 pounds, Johnson is of typical size but is a physical runner with a motor who isn’t afraid of contact. He has a talent for shedding tackles, and his patience behind blockers leaps from his tape.
In 2025, in Nebraska, KC’s newest running back had 1,451 yards on 251 carries with 12 touchdowns, and as a pass catcher, he was also effective. In that same year, as a Cornhusker, the versatile running back had 46 receptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson’s ability to catch out of the backfield, accompanied by a burst of acceleration, will be of particular value to Patrick Mahomes. After Mahomes suffered the most serious injury of his career last year, a reliable pass catcher in the backfield to beat pressure is a must. With the Chiefs suffering a record of 6-11 in 2025, with an inconsistent running attack that opposing defenses didn’t exactly fear being a reason, Kansas City’s new approach to offense is a necessity, and Johnson could be an important piece to that measure.
