Chiefs rumor could lead to signing of Falcons, Steelers or Panthers free agents

The Kansas City Chiefs have a few pressing needs that must be addressed this offseason, especially at running back.

Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are set to hit free agency next week, and it wouldn't make much sense for Kansas City to retain either, as neither was overly effective in 2025.

As a result, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reports that the Chiefs will be targeting a running back in free agency, but they won't pursue the top of the market players.

"The Chiefs appear ready to strike at the running back position this month. They don't think Jeremiyah Love will fall to them at No. 9 (a few of our draft analysts have him going one spot earlier, to New Orleans) so Kansas City won't wait until the draft. The Chiefs may not be in the mix for a top-of-market player like Kenneth Walker III, but a player in that $8 million per year area could be one for them," Jones said.

With Kansas City unlikely to sign the high-level options, such as Kenneth Walker and Travis Etienne, it would make sense for general manager Brett Veach to focus on the middle tier of running backs in the market, like Tyler Allgeier of the Atlanta Falcons, Kenneth Gainwell of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Rico Dowdle of the Carolina Panthers.

Allgeier has been overshadowed by Bijan Robinson over the last few years, but the 25-year-old has still posted solid production as the backup, and in his lone year as the starter in 2022, he had over 1,000 rushing yards.

Gainwell was Pittsburgh's team MVP in 2025, and his versatility as a receiving back would make him a perfect fit in Andy Reid's offense.

Dowdle has tallied two consecutive 1,000-yard rushing campaigns with the Panthers and would be a major upgrade over Pacheco and Hunt for the Chiefs.

Allgeier, Gainwell, and Dowdle will all demand reasonable contracts in free agency and would be immediate impact playmakers for Kansas City, so any of the three would be ideal signings.

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