NFL continues to make the Kansas City Chiefs’ deal for RB Kenneth Walker III look like the steal of 2026 free agency
New York Jets RB Breece Hall, Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, and now Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs have all been paid this offseason. All of those deals make Kansas City Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker’s contract look like a steal.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ deal for RB Kenneth Walker III in free agency looks better and better by the day.
Kansas City had one of the big splashes in the opening of free agency, signing Walker to a three-year deal worth $43.05 million. The contract has $28.7 million fully guaranteed, with Walker receiving a $13 million signing bonus. His 2026 and 2027 salaries and workout bonuses are fully guaranteed.
Now, other NFL clubs are making that deal look like a steal.
Other running back deals have only made Walker’s contract look better
As the NFL offseason has progressed, a number of other running backs have received deals topping Walker’s, and they don’t have nearly the accolades. The latest to join them is Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs. The three-time Pro Bowler signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal, which includes $51.5 million guaranteed. It makes him the NFL’s highest-paid running back.
Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson received a new deal at a total value of $66.75 million. Gibbs’ deal slightly tops Robinson’s, as most NFL contracts do when they come due.
There are now seven running backs in the NFL who exceed Walker’s average per year of $14.35 million. Eight running backs exceed his contract in total value, and six running backs exceed it in total guaranteed dollars. He’s not even a top-5 running back by most salary-related metrics. Paying early in the NFL always has its benefits. Chiefs GM Brett Veach was clearly ahead of the curve on the RB market in 2026.
Walker is already reshaping the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense at training camp
Walker’s deal was done to help solve the Chiefs’ biggest problem from a season ago. They lacked explosive plays from the running game. Walker was sensational leading up to and during last year’s Super Bowl, when he became the Super Bowl MVP and a world champion. He’s a natural fit in an outside zone offense, but his role is expected to expand in Kansas City.
Before Walker has even played a snap for K.C., his contract looks like the biggest steal in the NFL. You don’t usually get Super Bowl MVPs at a discount. He has plenty left to prove in Kansas City, especially with all these other running backs getting big deals. He’s already off to a hot start at training camp, being integrated in both the running game and the passing game.
The Chiefs have already shown a correlation between Walker’s arrival and the return of more under-center running for the offense. Walker is reshaping how Kansas City makes its mark on offense. If he continues to play at the caliber, pace, and production he showed in 2025, he should more than live up to his contract.
