Coming off a 2024 season in which the Kansas City Chiefs' run game ranked 26th in yards per game (101.2), the front office knew that something had to change.
With Isiah Pachco and Kareem Hunt returning, neither is considered a speed burner; instead, they are more than capable of picking up yards in a bruising manner.
That led the Chiefs to pick up Elijah Mitchell in free agency who has speed to burn, but is coming off an injury that saw him ruled out of the entire 2024 season. Then came the draft.
Kansas City then selected SMU back Brashard Smith, who rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, but it was his 4.39 speed and his ability to be a dynamic slasher that caught the AFC champs' attention.
And for director of player personnel Rnye Nutt, he fully expects Smith to feature at some point in 2025.
"When he has the ball in his hands, whether it's as a runner or catching the ball, he can do some silly things in terms of what he can set up," Nutt said via ESPN. "Now he has to come in and pick everything up and there has to be a comfort level that he knows what he's doing. But talent-wise, there should be no reason this kid shouldn't help us at some point in the season.''
With the Chiefs not having genuine speed in the backfield, it can make stopping the run rather easy for defenses, and eight times Kansas City was kept under 100 yards last season.
Now with Mitchell and Smith in the ranks, both of whom possess the home-run speed Andy Reid is looking for, there is a hope that defenses won't be able to pin their ears back and go after Patrick Mahomes because of the threat Mitchell and Smith possess.
Granted, that is provided Smith makes the team, and Nutt said as much, so this offseason looms as pivotal in seeing if the former SMU star can adapt to the playbook and the rigors of the NFL, because make no mistake about it, there is a spot on this roster for him.
If he's good enough.
