The Kansas City Chiefs’ running back room got a complete overhaul this offseason, saying goodbye to Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt to welcome in free-agent signing Kenneth Walker III and Emari Demercado, along with fifth-round pick Emmett Johnson.
The only incumbent from the 2025 season is Brashard Smith, who was drafted in the seventh round (pick 228) in last year’s NFL Draft. However, it’s worth pointing out that not only did the Chiefs add a trio of talented backs in front of him, but the offensive
coaching staff is also completely different from the one that was potentially consulted on drafting the prospect from SMU.
So, as Arrowhead Pride user “Kyanho000024” alludes to in this post on The Feed, should Smith prepare to switch positions back to wide receiver in order to have a chance at making the 53-man roster this season?
Out of high school, Smith was a four-star WR recruit and the 29th-ranked wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class, according to 247Sports. He enrolled at the University of Miami over accepting offers from Florida, Alabama and Auburn.
He played three years for the Hurricanes before transferring to SMU in 2024, but over four collegiate years, Smith lined up as a receiver (in the slot or out wide) on 584 snaps, compared to 522 snaps in the backfield. In total, he caught 108 passes for 1,097 yards and eight touchdowns before entering the draft.
He also returned 53 kicks and five punts over four years in college, a role that he may need to work towards once again as he realizes the potential of the new running back room.
As a rookie, he returned 18 kickoffs and over the final two weeks of the season, had all six os his career punt returns.
When Smith has the ball in his hands, there’s enticing movement ability, especially in the open field. If offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy isn’t a fan of his future as a running back, Smith may have to focus on his returning and pass-catching skills to continue being a playmaker for Kansas City.
