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Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith could be on the hot seat at training camp.
The Kansas City Chiefs blew up their entire running back room this offseason, outside of 2025 seventh-round pick Brashard Smith, but the latest NFL draft and UDFA news could put the RB prospect on the hot seat this summer.
After the Chiefs signed Kenneth Walker and Emari Demercado in free agency, it felt like Smith was third on the new running back depth chart. Then, Kansas City continued to prioritize the position in late April, and that’s a bad sign for the late-round flyer.
The Chiefs didn’t just draft Nebraska star Emmett Johnson in round five; they also signed three undrafted RBs immediately after round seven.
Those prospects are the elusive Terion Stewart, NFL legacy E.J. Smith, and former collegiate 1,000-yard rusher Jaydn Ott. On top of that, KC offered a fourth UDFA, Al-Jay Henderson, a camp invite.
Yes, running back is a position where you need ample depth, but if the Chiefs were completely set on Brashard Smith being a capable RB3, they wouldn’t be bringing in so much rookie competition.
The reality is, this is a subtle warning from Kansas City. If Smith doesn’t show clear signs of development this summer, his 53-man roster spot will be up for grabs. And after the Johnson selection, the deck may already be stacked against him.
Emmett Johnson’s Ability on Passing Downs Could Eliminate Brashard Smith’s Role With Chiefs
GettyThe Emmett Johnson selection could have sealed the fate of Kansas City Chiefs seventh-rounder Brashard Smith.
The Chiefs didn’t hide how much they loved Johnson after he fell to the fifth round. Vice President of Player Personnel Ryne Nutt said the following when speaking to reporters about the draft results.
“We went through the running backs, and Emmett was one of the top guys we watched,” Nutt told the media. “We loved him. Brett [Veach] was super high on this kid; we all were really high on this kid.”
Nutt went on to joke that Johnson has a “juke button” to his game, with good feet, vision, and ability in the passing game.
“I don’t know why he fell,” Nutt finally concluded. “We were shocked he fell, and that’s why we took him in the fifth round, and that’s why Brett traded up to get him. Because of the conviction we had in the talent, and because we knew that was probably lower than he should’ve went, but we’re happy to have the kid for sure.”
The even larger issue for Smith, Johnson was one of the better pass-catchers in this class. The Athletic’s draft expert Dane Brugler noted that Johnson’s “pass-catching savvy will be an asset at the next level,” and the Nebraska playmaker caught 46 passes for 370 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2025.
If Demercado and Johnson are the change-of-pace backs with receiving prowess and Walker is the early-down workhorse, what’s left for Smith?
Chiefs Fans Have Pushed RB News Like This for a Long Time
The Chiefs’ running back overhaul was a long time coming. KC fans have been requesting an offseason like this for some time, and Veach didn’t pull any punches this spring.
As mentioned above, every ball-carrier from the 2025 roster outside of Smith is gone. That includes Isiah Pacheco, Carson Steele, Dameon Pierce, Elijah Mitchell, and — most likely — veteran free agent Kareem Hunt.
Veach has also attacked this Chiefs issue in free agency, the draft, and the UDFA market. So, the front office has looked at it from all angles.
Kansas City appears poised to run the ball more in 2026. After all, quarterback Patrick Mahomes is working his way back from knee surgery, and former RBs coach Eric Bieniemy has reclaimed his prior role as offensive coordinator.
That combination all hints at fewer air-raid game plans. One more observation: the Chiefs ignored wide receiver for most of the offseason.
Outside of drafting Cyrus Allen and re-signing Tyquan Thornton and Travis Kelce, KC did not dedicate many resources to the passing attack. That is a major deviation from past offseasons, and it jives with the idea of a more balanced offense.
Michael Obermuller covers the NFL as an Associate Editor for Heavy Sports, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the NFL breaking news operation, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, with expert knowledge on each based on years of coverage. Michael is an NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate. More about Michael Obermuller
