The Kansas City Chiefs took less than 30 minutes of the open window to legally tamper with free agents before striking an agreement with the top running back available.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Chiefs have struck a deal with former Seattle Seahawks running back
Kenneth Walker III. The 25-year-old back is just a month removed from winning Super Bowl MVP by rushing for 135 yards over 27 attempts in the 29-13 defeat of the New England Patriots.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported that the agreement appears to be a three-year deal worth up to $45 million. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz added the guaranteed money would be $28.7 million. It is the biggest investment the Chiefs have made at the running back position since drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Walker has acknowledged the news, sharing an image of himself rocking the red and gold on X just minutes after the headlines broke.
Walker was a second-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, going 41st overall to Seattle and immediately proving himself by totaling 1,050 rushing yards and nine touchdowns during his rookie campaign; both are still career highs.
A slew of injuries have shaped his production as inconsistent in the time since, but the 2025 season was Walker’s second-best year in terms of output. He played all 17 regular-season games and totaled 1,299 total yards before carrying the rushing load for the Seahawks’ offense in the postseason. Over three games, Walker ran for 313 yards, four touchdowns and moved the chains 17 times.
How do you feel about the Chiefs taking this big swing in free agency? Let us know in the comments!
