After missing the playoffs, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach knew he had to upgrade head coach Andy Reid's roster this offseason. When free agency began, the Chiefs wasted no time in making an upgrade. Some also felt that the Chiefs made one of the best signings of the year. Not everyone agrees.
Recently, Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport actually called Kenneth Walker III one of the worst free agency signings of the NFL's offseason. His reasoning? Largely because the 25-year-old running back has yet to consistently prove he can handle a heavy workload.
"Throughout his four-year career, Walker has battled serious injuries," Davenport wrote. "Last year was the first time he played all 17 games. While the 2022 second-round pick has posted two 1,000-yard seasons, he's never had 230 carries in a season. He's never played 600 snaps in a season. Walker is being paid like a bell-cow at running back. But to date, he hasn't shown he can truly be one."
The Chiefs signed Walker to a three-year contract worth more than $43 million this offseason. He is now the fourth-highest paid tailback in the NFL, just behind future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry, and just ahead of Breece Hall, who is set to play the season on the franchise tag.
While there is no doubt that Walker adds more talent to the Kansas City backfield that saw Isiah Pacheco sign in free agency with the Lions, time will tell if he lives up to his contract with the Chiefs. Still, if his addition helps the Chiefs become one of the NFL's best teams capable of winning a Super Bowl, chances are they'll feel like Walker is worth every penny.
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