The overall talent of the Kansas City Chiefs’ running back room was certainly upgraded this offseason with the signing of Kenneth Walker III, along with a notable addition in Emari Demercado.
Those moves put the Chiefs in a position to have it low on the priority list during the 2026 NFL Draft — until a point in the middle of the fifth round, when one running back became too valuable to ignore anymore.
General manager Brett Veach struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers to move from pick 169 to pick 161 with his focus on Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson. He was honored as First Team All-American and led the Big Ten conference in rushing yards last season, earning the attention of the Chiefs’ front office.
Chiefs Vice President of Player Personnel Ryne Nutt answered questions from reporters in a livestreamed press conference on Monday, and he revealed that Veach was just one of the front-office members who felt strongly about Johnson in a December meeting last season.
“We went through the running backs, and Emmett was one of the top guys we watched,” Nutt remembered from a December gathering. “We loved him. Brett was super high on this kid; we all were really high on this kid.”
Johnson was graded as high as a third-round pick by some draft analysts, showing talent that was clear to Nutt and the staff in Kansas City.
“He’s a juke button, he has very good feet, vision, feel, and he’s very good out of the backfield,” Nutt described. “I think the Combine 40, I think he ran like a 4.56 or something, that might’ve scared people away, but then he ran a 4.49 at his Pro Day. Then he ran like a 4.49 or 4.50… so he showed on two reps that he can match the same speed.”
“I don’t know why he fell,” Nutt admitted. “We were shocked he fell, and that’s why we took him in the fifth round, and that’s why Brett traded up to get him. Because of the conviction we had in the talent, and we because we knew that was probably lower than he should’ve went, but we’re happy to have the kid for sure.”
The Chiefs were happy to be the team to give a decorated back like Johnson his chance, and the feelings were mutual.
When Johnson spoke with reporters on a video call after his selection, he expressed his excitement about rolling with the punches.
“Same reaction I had my whole life, I’ve been doubted, I’ve been passed on so I just needed an opportunity, honestly,” Johnson said. “Really blessed for this opportunity, didn’t matter what pick, what round, I can still put on a football jersey, put on a football helmet, go out there and work. When it’s on the field, it’s not ‘what pick it is,’ it’s everyone playing football, so I’m ready for that.”
Johnson is projected to be the immediate backup to Walker in the lead-back role, but don’t be surprised if Johnson earns his way onto the field on pass downs or in other situations. His talent may be hard for the coaching staff to ignore, just like it was for the front office during Day 3 of the draft.
