Chiefs Get Their Running Back in Round 7

When the Kansas City Chiefs passed on a running back in the fifth round, the Chiefs Kingdom went crazy. However, General Manager Brett Veach traded a pair of seventh-round picks to nab arguably one of the fastest running backs in the 2025 class.

The Kansas City Chiefs had several positions of need heading into the NFL Draft. One of them was running back, and until there were two outs in the bottom of the ninth on a 3-2 count, General Manager Brett Veach put the football over the fence.

In selecting SMU Running Back, Brashard Smith, the Chiefs have a legitimate speed burner who can run away from defenses and give Head Coach Andy Reid another option to increase the production of the offense.

Last season, the Chiefs relied on Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt. Pacheco, a seventh-round pick three years ago, was injured, and Hunt came off his living room couch to bail out the running game.

However, neither has the speed of Smith, nor his ability to change directions on a dime. Smith, who played wide receiver for the Miami Hurricanes from 2021 to 2023, transferred to SMU this past season.

He was a first-team ACC All-Pro, and in his only year as a running back, he had 1,977 All-Purpose yards for the Mustangs. He scored 18 touchdowns last season (14 running and 4 receiving) to lead SMU’s offense. That performance helped SMU secure a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

If you’ve watched him on film, he has tremendous vision running the ball, and with his receiving skills, Reid could dial up more screen passes next season.

The addition of Smith does create a logjam at the running back position for the Chiefs. Pacheco, Hunt, and free agent signee Elijah Mitchell will all compete for a roster spot and playing time.

It’s possible the Chiefs could move Pacheco, who might have trade value, but that’s a decision to be made during training camp. Until then, we have to see what Smith can do once he puts on the pads in a Chiefs uniform.