Bears back away as Kenneth Walker Iii draws interest and Chiefs weigh RB options
Bears fans expecting Chicago to chase a high-profile running back may need to reset their free-agency hopes, with kenneth walker iii now looking like an unlikely target. Attention around the back has shifted toward Kansas City, which has been flagged as a team exploring a potential move if he hits the market.
Chicago Bears and a backfield built around D’Andre Swift
Chicago’s current roster construction points away from a big running back investment. The Bears already have a productive backfield led by D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and the offense under head coach Ben Johnson is designed to spread touches through a running back by committee.
That approach makes a major financial commitment at the position harder to justify. A deal for kenneth walker iii could take $15 million per season or more, and spending that kind of money on a running back has been framed as a poor fit with Chicago’s priorities.
Kansas City Chiefs among teams exploring Kenneth Walker Iii
Kansas City has been singled out among the teams that are exploring a potential move for Walker if he reaches the open market. He is expected to draw interest from several teams, reflecting his perceived value across the league.
Walker’s production and recent high-profile performance help explain that interest. Since entering the NFL in 2022 as a second-round pick, he has been described as one of the most explosive runners in football, and he rushed for 1, 027 yards and five touchdowns in 2025.
Brett Veach and the Chiefs’ search for more explosiveness
The Chiefs’ running back pursuit ties into a broader offseason need for the offense. General manager Brett Veach said at the NFL Combine that getting more explosive at running back was a major priority, and the team has been framed as needing a true starting running back.
Kansas City has also been connected to draft solutions, including Jeremiyah Love. The Chiefs have been urged to stay open to using a first-round pick on Love, though there has also been caution about the risk of waiting for the draft and the cost of trading up, given the uncertainty of whether he would be available at pick No. 9.
Chicago’s stance would shift only if its offseason priorities change from the trenches and defense to making a major move at running back. Until then, the next concrete turning point for both teams will come when Walker’s market status becomes clear and Kansas City decides whether to pursue a veteran addition or commit to a first-round draft solution.
