Kansas City Chiefs add Kenneth Walker III to bolster offensive backfield

The Kansas City Chiefs signed running back Kenneth Walker III during the opening hour of free agency to address a need for more reliable production on the ground. General manager Brett Veach targeted Walker following his performance for the Seattle Seahawks last season, where he recorded 313 rushing yards and four touchdowns across three playoff games. The move aims to assist quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who faced a depleted offense and health concerns throughout the previous season. Head coach Andy Reid indicated that the team plans to use Walker in a larger role than he held in Seattle, including increased red-zone opportunities and screen passes. The Chiefs hope this addition will force opposing defenses to respect the run game and prevent light boxes, which previously hindered the team's ability to execute play-action passes.

• 5:45 PMYahoo Sports — Kenneth Walker III might be exactly what Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs needed