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The Kansas City Chiefs finally brought in popular NFL draft fit Josh Simmons for a top 30 visit, but there’s a problem.
The Kansas City Chiefs have no shortage of needs throughout their roster to address during the offseason.
The 2025 season fell apart for the Chiefs on Thanksgiving, as they lost to the Dallas Cowboys, and dropping every other game the rest of the way. Kansas City may not quite be in full rebuild mode, but certainly has several position groups that need retooled.
Defensive line and running back have been the consensus top needs for the Chiefs, but wide receiver has also entered the discussion as of late due to the circumstances surrounding Rashee Rice.
NFL analyst Louis Riddick, who worked with Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and coach Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles, believes the running back position will be put on the backburner during free agency.
Louis Riddick Believes Needs at Defensive Line, Wide Receiver Will Take Precedent for the Kansas City Chiefs in Free Agency
On Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up,” Riddick stated that he doesn’t see the Chiefs acquiring a veteran running back during free agency.
“If you’re talking about the free agent market and what positions they could end up targeting, obviously you want to see if there comes a point in time where any kind of premier interior or edge pass rusher comes available. You want to see what’s happing in the wide receiver market, for sure. I don’t think you can count them out of that market. Them making a big swing for a No. 1 type of wide receiver, I don’t think you can totally rule out.
“I don’t think that they would play in the veteran free agent market for a running back. I know some people would say he swung and missed on Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Right now people think that he doesn’t know how to draft running backs at a high level. I don’t think they’re going to play at the free agent market (at running back). I think wide receiver [and] pass rusher would be the positions in the veteran free agent market that they will look at.”
Free Agency Is the Chiefs’ Best Bet at Fixing the Running Back Position
GettyRB Travis Etienne.
It’s very possible that Riddick knows something we don’t, but on paper it makes a ton of sense for the Chiefs to acquire one of the top running backs in free agency. This year’s crop of free agent RBs is absolutely loaded, headlined by players like Breece Hall, Travis Etienne Jr., and Kenneth Walker.
Reid has a history of bringing his rookie skill position players along slowly. At the RB position specifically, he has to trust that they will be able to pass protect adequately for star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs need a starting RB that can not only be a workhorse, but can quickly pick up Reid’s offense.
Riddick even admitted that Veach doesn’t have the greatest track record when it comes to drafting RBs. Guys like Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco had their moments, but neither could keep the starting role locked down. If the Chiefs can sign one of the names above and bring back Kareem Hunt as a short-yardage specialist, they can move on and focus on other needs.
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports’ Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch’s career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch
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