Jhelum Mehta
More good news in Chiefs Kingdom, the three-peat is officially on. The Kansas City Chiefs all but announced their plans for the 2026 NFL season by signing a reigning Super Bowl MVP to bolster Patrick Mahomes’ chances of picking up the Lombardi once again.
Chiefs Land Super Bowl MVP in Major Offensive Upgrade
Not long ago, we predicted Kenneth Walker signing with KC, and hitting on a prediction always feels good. Now it’s official. Kenneth Walker III is heading to the Kansas City Chiefs, per his X post. Walker reportedly inked a three-year deal worth up to $45 million. The deal includes $28.7 million in guaranteed money. Making him the fourth most expensive running back in the league.
Surprising? Not so much.
Just a year ago, Walker was playing the final season of his rookie deal with a base salary of $1.8 million. Walker has been paid like an RB1, so expect him to be used like one. The running back should take over the top spot on the Chiefs depth chart, joining a group that only includes Smith during the early stages of free agency.
What makes the move even more interesting is how things unfolded in Seattle Seahawks territory. Despite Walker suiting up for all 17 games for the first time in his career, Seattle chose not to place the franchise tag on him. That tag for running backs was projected at $14.186 million, per Spotrac. A transition tag would’ve come in cheaper at $11.7 million, giving the Seahawks the chance to match any outside offer Walker received.
Instead, Seattle let the dynamic back test the market — and the Chiefs wasted no time pouncing.
The Chiefs are obviously rebuilding most of the locker room, all while searching for a potential replacement for Travis Kelce. Yes, the tight end is reportedly coming back to Arrowhead for another season. But this might just be his last. The front office needs to find another target for Patrick Mahomes. Pronto.
And while they do that, Walker seems like a good target to ease the pressure on the QB.
And it seems like they’ll also have a backup RB, just in case. The Chiefs have been in the market for a running back for a while now, with many projecting them to draft star Jeremiyah Love out of Notre Dame with their first-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Walker was a massive catalyst in the Seattle Seahawks’ run to the Lombardi, torching defenses throughout the postseason with 417 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
And when the lights were brightest, Walker saved his nastiest performance for the biggest stage. In Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots, the star back gashed the defense for 161 yards, powering Seattle to the title and walking away with Super Bowl MVP honors. In doing so, he became the first running back to win the award since Terrell Davis did it back in 1998.
His regular-season résumé wasn’t too shabby either, 1,027 rushing yards and five touchdowns, proving he can carry the load from September through February.
Either way, buckle up. The NFL offseason is already cooking, and the fireworks are just getting started. THIS LEAGUE.
