Chiefs Draftee Highlights Position Challenges

One of the most interesting position groups to watch this offseason for the Kansas City Chiefs has been running back.

Isiah Pacheco is coming off a poor 2024 season that was derailed by injury, Kareem Hunt signed a one-year deal to be the power back, and Elijah Mitchell missed all of 2024 with a hamstring injury.

That isn't exactly a settled room, and there was a thought the Chiefs might add another body to the room in the draft, which they did, with SMU's Brashard Smith being selected in the seventh round.

But in what is a unique twist, Smith spent his first three seasons as a receiver with Florida, and last year, he transferred to SMU, where he became a running back.

That couldn't have been an easy thing to do.

"I'll say switching from receiver to running back, the challenges would be just running and lining up inside the hole," Smith said. "I'll say just being more patient and actually being a back that has to hit and get tackled a lot, it's very different, it was, I wouldn't say pretty easy change for me, but I was familiar with running back growing up. So as far as just making the switch, it was kind of just getting back to playing running back."

The position change seemed to work well for Smith, who rushed for 1,332 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, but he also dabbled as a receiver, with 39 receptions, 327 yards and three touchdowns.

So he is a dual-threat back, and with the Chiefs' liking to get Patrick Mahomes to use his running backs in the passing game, Smith might fit in well with what Andy Reid does in 2025.

Granted, he only has one year of experience as a running back, but it was a good one at that. A slippery runner who can get to the second level in a flash with his 4.39 speed, Smith and his ball skills could make him a useful addition to Reid's offense.

Both as a running back and receiver.