The Kansas City Chiefs will aim to retool their roster for the 2026 season in an effort to return to postseason glory. A position that certainly let the team down during a 6-11 campaign was running back,
a position the Chiefs will attempt to upgrade this offseason.
One potential suitor, set to become a free agent in a month, is Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, who was crowned Super Bowl MVP in the 29-13 win over the New England Patriots. He is coming off a strong 2025 regular season, his fourth in the NFL. He started all 17 games for the first time in his career, finishing with over 1,000 rushing yards and adding five touchdowns. It was Walker’s first 1,000-yard rushing campaign since his rookie season.
In the postseason, Walker was a workhorse for the Seahawks. He added over 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. He was the focal point of the Seahawks’ offense in the Super Bowl, a unit that includes Offensive Player of the Year, wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Walker had 27 rushing attempts for 135 yards, gaining pivotal first downs and wearing down a staunch New England defense throughout the night.
Walker is the first running back since 1998 — Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis — to claim Super Bowl MVP, and the first rusher to gain 100 yards in a Super Bowl since Chiefs’ running back Damien Williams in Super Bowl LIV.
Given these new accolades, Walker has likely earned a hefty pay increase for next season from his current rookie contract. Walker now headlines a group of compelling running backs set to hit free agency. Other notable upcoming free agent running backs include Travis Etienne, Breece Hall, Rachaad White, and Javonte Williams, among others.
Entering the 2026 offseason, the Chiefs do need to resolve salary cap issues if they hope to be players in free agency for a top running back. As it relates to Walker specifically, there is no guarantee he will become available on the open market. Walker is a prime candidate for the Seahawks to apply the franchise tag if the parties are unable to come to a long-term agreement.
The franchise tag for running backs in 2026 is expected to be 14.5 million, an amount the Seahawks may be willing to pay to secure their Super Bowl MVP running back to their roster. The running back position carries one of the lowest franchise tag values, making it an affordable option for clubs to utilize at a position viewed as highly volatile from an injury and longevity standpoint.
However, the possibility exists that Walker will enter the open market. There is a high price that comes with winning, and the Seahawks will soon have to pay the piper. They will soon owe long-term extensions to other franchise cornerstones, including Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
The franchise tag window opens on February 17th and will close on March 4th. It will not be long before the Chiefs know if they will have an opportunity to speak with Walker or other free agent running backs.
Whether it be in free agency or the NFL Draft, running back is a priority for the Chiefs in the offseason. Running backs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are both set to become free agents. Brashard Smith is currently the only running back on the Chiefs’ roster entering the 2026 offseason. With the potential departure of other veterans and the poor production in 2025, Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III would certainly be an intriguing option for the Chiefs’ backfield.
