‘Signing of the Offseason’ — NFL Analysts React to Kenneth Walker III’s Monster Chiefs Debut, Seahawks’ ‘Weird Decision’ to Let Him Walk
· Yahoo Sports
There were a ton of questions about the moves the Kansas City Chiefs made this offseason. After the team won just six games last year and Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, fans hoped the team would undergo a massive overhaul, particularly on offense.
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However, the team spent most of its resources on the defensive side of the ball, except for a three-year, $43.05 million contract to Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. As it turns out, that might have been enough.
Kenneth Walker III Stuns in Chiefs Debut
Facing the number four-ranked defense on PFN’s Defense Impact Metric from last season, especially without their starting left tackle, was about as difficult a spot as one could expect as Mahomes returned from a devastating injury.
But the Chiefs were able to take control of the game, primarily because of Walker. Coming out of halftime, he broke open a 60-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 21-7, but for the Mahomes-led Chiefs, it was a truly unique experience.
Since 2018, when Mahomes first became a starter, it was the longest run by a running back on the roster. With the passing attack generating just 68 yards until that point, Walker was the primary reason for the Chiefs’ having the lead.
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“The Chiefs had two weaknesses last year before Mahomes went down: their offensive play-calling and their run game,”Jacob Infante revealed, before adding, “Kenneth Walker appears to have fixed the run game. Early returns on this Chiefs offense are strong.”
It was the feeling across the league, as Brandon Astreicher added, “Kenneth Walker III, what a player. Have yourself a 2026. Super Bowl MVP and signing of the offseason. He has changed Chiefs fans’ lives in just two hours, WOW.”
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But for others, the sheer amount of carries for Walker was eye-opening. Last year, as the Seattle Seahawks split carries between him and Zach Charbonnet, he tallied more than 15 carries just six times in 17 regular season games.
Against the Broncos, at the time of writing, he was already up to 16 carries, accounting for 149 rushing yards. “Feels like Andy Reid is sending a message to Seattle’s coaching staff with this Ken Walker usage,”Jason Katz joked.
PFN Fantasy analyst Kyle Soppe, too, broke down what a rare sight it was for the Chiefs, revealing, “Mahomes first 147 career games –> Chiefs: 1 60+ yard TD run (Damien Williams, W17, 2019). Mahomes in 1 game with Walker –> Chiefs: 1 60+ yard TD run.”
For Caleb Yaccarino, it was a bigger shock that the Seahawks had let Walker go, despite him tallying over 1,000 rushing yards over the 2025 season and ranking number 23 on PFN’s Running Back Impact Metric.
He wrote, “Man, I know Jadarian Price looked decent in his debut, but after this performance, letting Kenneth Walker leave just feels like a weird decision.”
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As a result, the first MNF of the season became a thorough showcase for Walker, who Pro Football Network noted accounted for a majority of the action. The account reported, “Kenneth Walker in the 1st half: 16 touches. Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, Jaylen Waddle, and Courtland Sutton COMBINED: 3 touches.”
It remains to be seen if this can be a theme throughout the season. But in the first game back from injury, without their starting left tackle against a divisional rival, Walker was going to be invaluable for the Chiefs in this matchup.
He’s proven to be well worth that investment. Now it’s going to be interesting to see if he can follow it up over the course of the season.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.