The Kansas City Chiefs have secured Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker with a three-year contract worth up to $45 million. The former Seattle running back fills a critical need for Kansas City after their disappointing 6-11 season.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City has reached an agreement with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker on a three-year contract valued at up to $45 million, bringing the former Seattle Seahawks running back to the Chiefs, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
The contract features $28.7 million in guaranteed money and carries a base value of $43.05 million, according to the source, who requested anonymity since deals cannot be finalized until the new league year officially starts on Wednesday.
This signing addresses what may be Kansas City’s most pressing roster concern as the franchise attempts to recover from a disappointing 6-11 campaign. With top rushers Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco both entering free agency, the Chiefs had only sophomore player Brashard Smith remaining under contract at the position.
The Walker acquisition comes as Kansas City moves closer to securing four-time All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce for his 14th season, according to another source familiar with those discussions who also spoke anonymously to the AP due to the preliminary nature of the agreement.
Selected in the second round of the 2022 draft, Walker accumulated 3,555 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns during his four seasons in Seattle. This past regular season, he posted 1,027 yards and five touchdowns, but elevated his performance in the postseason with 116 yards and three scores against San Francisco, another touchdown versus Los Angeles, and 135 yards in Kansas City’s 29-13 Super Bowl victory over New England.
Walker becomes only the fourth Super Bowl MVP to switch teams the season after winning the award, joining Larry Brown (Cowboys to Raiders), Desmond Howard (Packers to Raiders), and Dexter Jackson (Buccaneers to Cardinals).
Kansas City has historically relied on a combination of late-round draft selections and budget-friendly free agents at running back. However, the team desperately needed upgrades after finishing 25th in the league in rushing offense, averaging just 106.6 yards per game on the ground.
Hunt led the team with 661 rushing yards while Pacheco contributed 462 yards. Remarkably, quarterback Patrick Mahomes ranked as the team’s third-leading rusher with 422 yards and five touchdowns before missing the season’s final three games due to a torn knee ligament.
Kansas City had been connected to Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love in the upcoming NFL draft, but his impressive showing at the scouting combine may have elevated his draft stock beyond the Chiefs’ reach when they select ninth overall.
The franchise also holds the 29th pick in the first round as part of the trade that sent cornerback Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles. With Walker now in the fold, Kansas City gains greater draft flexibility to address other areas of need, including pass rush, interior defensive line depth, offensive line reinforcements, and wide receiver.