An underrated part of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl collapse was their run game. While the offensive line’s struggles and a lackluster wide receiver group drew plenty of criticism, their lack of a consistent ground attack was largely overlooked.
An early-season injury to Isiah Pacheco left Kansas City with a major hole in the backfield. Signing Kareem Hunt helped somewhat, but he wasn’t a back that defenses feared. That put even more pressure on the passing game. However, one analyst believes change is coming for the Chiefs in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs Predicted to Bring Back Dynamism to Their Offense
A Week 2 injury derailed Pacheco’s season, sidelining him until late November. He had a strong start, but his absence forced the Chiefs to rely on Hunt, who finished with 728 rushing yards and just 3.6 yards per carry—far from ideal.
Combined with injuries at wide receiver, it was no surprise that Kansas City finished outside the top 10 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. However, after their Super Bowl struggles, they are unlikely to repeat the same formula.
The latest PFSN mock draft offers a potential solution. With the 66th overall pick in the third round, the Chiefs are projected to select Ohio State standout TreVeyon Henderson. Analyst Ian Cummings kept his explanation brief.
“TreVeyon Henderson is as multifaceted a back you’ll find in the 2025 class. He’s explosive, urgent, and a capable receiver and Andy Reid would use him well.”
Henderson was already a solid running back in his first three seasons at Ohio State, but his 2024 campaign took him to another level. Racking up 1,016 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns was impressive, but his 7.1 yards per carry average was off the charts.
Over four years with the Buckeyes, Henderson proved to be a reliable playmaker, surpassing 4,000 yards from scrimmage. He also thrived in the red zone, scoring 42 rushing and six receiving touchdowns.
His 2021 season was particularly special, featuring 19 total touchdowns. He also posted double-digit touchdown totals in two other seasons.
The Chiefs have already taken steps to improve their backfield, signing former San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell. However, it’s unclear how effective Mitchell will be alongside Patrick Mahomes, as he has spent much of his career as a backup and miss all of last season due to an injury.
Another Running Back Option in the Draft
Kansas City struck gold when they drafted Pacheco in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, as he became a crucial part of the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
However, they have decided not to extend Pacheco prior to the 2025 season, which could mean we’re heading towards a split between the Chiefs and the Rutgers alum.
An interesting option in the first round would be to address the offensive line and resolve the running back room later in the draft. The Chiefs traded veteran Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, so perhaps they will target IOL Grey Zabel, who’s a projected late-first-rounder.
Jaydon Blue, out of Texas, is a dynamic running back who’s considered the best receiving back in the draft. Last season, he totaled just under 1,100 scrimmage yards and 368 receiving yards with six receiving touchdowns.
One thing you will get out of Blue is electricity. You can catch lightning in a bottle with him, as he ran a 4.38 in the NFL Scouting Combine.
If the Chiefs truly want to move on from Pacheco, Blue is an interesting option to add to Mahomes’ arsenal (if they can’t select Henderson).
Chiefs Could Also Target Ole Miss Developmental Option in NFL Draft
While it makes sense for Kansas City to target a running back in the 2025 NFL Draft given Pacheco’s uncertain future, Henderson isn’t the only skill position player that Cummings believes the Chiefs will add in the draft.
In the second round, he has Kansas City selecting Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris.
“The Chiefs need an alpha-type receiver to pair with Rashee Rice’s RAC dynamism and Xavier Worthy’s speed. Tre Harris has the physicality and catch-point instincts they desire,” Cummings wrote.
A standout final season with the Rebels boosted Harris’ draft stock, and Cummings believes he could be an excellent third option alongside Rice and Worthy.
If the Chiefs make multiple additions via the 2025 NFL draft, they could reignite the explosive offense that has allowed them to become a modern dynasty.