The Kansas City Chiefs started free agency by signing one of the best running backs in football
in Kenneth Wallker III, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks.Apparently, the front office was not done adding to the room.
According to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz,
Kansas City will also be adding former Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado on a one-year contract.
Demercado signed with Arizona as an undrafted free agent out of TCU in 2023. Over three seasons in the desert, Demercado recorded 126 rushes for 819 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 50 receptions for 324 yards and another score. In 2025, Demercado averaged 7.1 yards per rushing attempt.
The Chiefs are also gaining special teams experience with the newest running back to don the red and gold. Demercado played over 50 special teams snaps in each of his seasons in Arizona and has taken six kickoff returns in his career.
The Cardinals did not offer Demercado a restricted free agent tender ahead of the new league year. While his base salary with Kansas City is currently unknown, he will not factor into the league’s compensatory picks for 2027.
Demercado will join Walker, second-year back Brashard Smith and ShunDerrick Powell as the team’s backfield representatives on the 90-man roster heading into 2026.
