In a move designed to strengthen the rushing attack that struggled last season, the Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III. And according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal is a three-year contract worth $45 million, including $28.7 million in guaranteed money. From what it looks like, every penny will be worth it.

The player can provide the Kansas City team with something their ground game sorely lacked: explosive playmaking. In fact, according to TruMedia, Walker recorded 10 runs of 20 yards or more last season, while the Chiefs’ entire running back group managed just one combined. No wonder quarterback Patrick Mahomes is elated.

“💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 LFGG!!!” Mahomes commented under Kenneth Walker III’s Instagram post, which announced he was making his way to Chiefs Kingdom.

Bringing Walker in will also take pressure off Mahomes, who tore his ACL late last season. The quarterback was often doing too much for an offensive unit that occasionally lacked depth at the skill positions. The team knows that. So, the very franchise that didn’t believe in spending premium picks or too much money on an RB in recent years finally did so.

Running behind a strong interior line featuring right guard Trey Smith, center Creed Humphrey, and left guard Kingsley Suamataia, Walker has the potential to generate explosive plays. And with Mahomes threatening defenses with his elite arm, opposing teams are unlikely to stack the box with eight defenders often, which should leave Walker with more room to force missed tackles.

It goes without saying that head coach Andy Reid got exactly the kind of player he wanted. Right after the 2025 season was done, he opined that he wanted a lot more from his running backs in 2026. That’s where Walker fits in perfectly. He will be expected to step in as the primary ball carrier for the Kansas City Chiefs, though the team may still look to strengthen the position further this offseason.

Here’s the thing: Second-year player Brashard Smith functions more as a hybrid running back-receiver option. Then there are Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, the franchise’s main backs during the 2024 and 2025 campaigns, but both are set to become free agents. That said, this Chiefs’ trio didn’t impress anyone last season. Pacheco didn’t record a single rushing attempt in which he gained 20 or more yards. Kareem Hunt had just one. The three players combined to force just 49 missed tackles.

Also, considering the Chiefs didn’t use a mid-round draft pick on a running back like they had intended last year, they might use one of their nine picks on that position this time. But that is something fans will have to keep an eye on during the draft. Coming back to Walker, his addition to the Kansas City team is also good news for offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

After all, the player had a pivotal role in powering the Seattle Seahawks to their Super Bowl triumph. Across three postseason games, he racked up 313 rushing yards and scored four touchdowns on the ground. Furthermore, Bieniemy’s return to the Chiefs and the addition of Walker would make Kansas City unlikely to rely as heavily on run-pass option plays. The Chiefs led the NFL in RPO usage last season.

That is where their latest signing will help. The Seattle Seahawks drafted Walker in 2022. Last season, he not only won Super Bowl LX, but he also earned the Super Bowl MVP award. He recorded 221 rushes for 1027 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the 2025 regular season.

Despite that, the Seahawks did not offer him a contract extension after his rookie contract was up. The Chiefs, however, quickly signed the free agent. But he did not come cheap. The franchise had to splash some cash to land the Super Bowl winner.

The Kansas City Chiefs empty their pockets for Kenneth Walker III

Signing Kenneth Walker III is definitely a good move for the Chiefs after finishing so low on rushing offense. Although they had some issues with cap space, they did not let this opportunity slide.

“It’s a three-year deal worth up to $45 million for Kenneth Walker III, who becomes the highest-paid free agent deal for a running back in nfl history,” reported Tom Pelissero on X.

With $28.7 million fully guaranteed, it makes him the fourth-highest paid player at his position in the league. But for someone who earned the Super Bowl MVP, it seems viable. David Canter and Ness Mugrabi of Aura Sports Group helped the RB in getting such a massive contract. The deal, however, will not be finalized until Wednesday, when the new league year officially begins.

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Following the signing, the Chiefs still have $22 million in their cap space. But it was not always the case. They had to restructure Patrick Mahomes’ contract, converting most of his $54 million base salary into a signing bonus. It opened up $43.5 million in cap space. Parting ways with RT Jawaan Taylor and several other players helped the team save some big bucks.

Now, it remains to be seen what other moves the Kansas City Chiefs make in the coming weeks, and also how Walker helps the team get back to winning ways.