Kansas City, MO – May 4, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a seismic trade Monday, acquiring Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 26-year-old dynamo, who racked up 573 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games in 2024, joins Kansas City to turbocharge their backfield after a 40-22 Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Walker, a 2022 second-round pick, brings elite burst with a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, complementing Isiah Pacheco’s bruising style. His 1,980 career rushing yards fortify Andy Reid’s versatile scheme. “Kenneth’s a difference-maker,” Reid told reporters, eyeing Walker to share carries with Pacheco, who battled a broken fibula in 2024, and ease Kareem Hunt’s workload at 30.
Chiefs receive: RB Kenneth Walker III and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Seahawks receive: A 2026 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
With $12.7 million in cap space, Kansas City absorbed Walker’s $2.7 million cap hit, leveraging cuts to Mike Danna and Nikko Remigio. The Chiefs, having drafted Josh Simmons, Omarr Norman-Lott, Ashton Gillotte, Nohl Williams, Jalen Royals, Jeffrey Bassa, and Brashard Smith, needed a reliable RB to bolster an offense ranked 28th with 1,392 rushing yards. Walker joins Pacheco, Hunt, and Elijah Mitchell, creating a fearsome rotation.
“Kenneth’s our spark,” GM Brett Veach said. The Seahawks, banking on Zach Charbonnet, traded Walker before his 2026 free agency. With two remaining picks, including No. 226, Kansas City targets receiver depth to replace DeAndre Hopkins. This blockbuster deal, a game-changer, sets Chiefs Kingdom ablaze with 2025 Super Bowl dreams, arming Mahomes with a backfield built to dominate the AFC.
