As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up for what could be a transformative offseason, two offensive positions stand out as clear priorities: running back and wide receiver. Both groups have underwhelmed in 2025, and with free agency looming for key contributors, the front office will need to make some tough - and potentially expensive - decisions.
Let’s start in the backfield. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are both set to hit free agency, and neither has delivered the kind of consistent production the Chiefs hoped for.
Pacheco has shown flashes of the hard-nosed running that made him a fan favorite, but durability and efficiency have been concerns. Hunt, brought in to add veteran depth, hasn’t quite recaptured the spark from his earlier days in Kansas City.
The bottom line: this group needs a jolt of explosiveness.
Enter Breece Hall and Travis Etienne Jr., two names that have surfaced as potential fits for Kansas City. Hall, in particular, would be a dream addition - a home-run hitter who can gash defenses on the ground and create mismatches as a receiver.
He’s the kind of dual-threat back who could thrive in Andy Reid’s offense, especially with Patrick Mahomes drawing attention from every level of the defense. Hall was even on the Chiefs’ radar at the trade deadline, which tells you this isn’t just idle speculation.
But there’s a catch - or several. Hall is a candidate for the franchise tag, which means any team hoping to land him would likely have to part with draft capital and then pay him a long-term deal.
Spotrac estimates that number at around $10.4 million per year. For a Chiefs team projected to be $42.8 million over the cap next season, that’s a big swing - even for a player of Hall’s caliber.
Etienne, on the other hand, might be the more realistic target. He’s coming off a bounce-back season and is expected to hit the open market unless Jacksonville locks him up beforehand.
The Jaguars are tight on cap space and already spent a mid-round pick on rookie Bhayshul Tuten, which could make Etienne expendable. Projected at $6.6 million annually over two years, Etienne would be a more budget-friendly option for Kansas City - and still a significant upgrade over the current backfield.
While Etienne doesn’t quite have Hall’s top-end burst, he’s a capable pass-catcher and has shown he can handle a heavy workload. In an offense like Kansas City’s, where space is everything and mismatches are currency, Etienne could be a valuable piece.
Then there’s the wide receiver room - a group that has lacked a true vertical threat since Tyreek Hill was traded after the 2021 season. Rashee Rice has emerged as a reliable target, but the Chiefs need someone who can stretch the field and force safeties to stay honest. That’s where Alec Pierce comes in.
Pierce has quietly put together the best season of his young career, leading the league with 20.2 yards per reception. At just 25 years old, he brings size, speed, and a knack for making big plays downfield - exactly what Kansas City’s offense has been missing. He’s not a volume guy, and he’s never posted gaudy numbers, but that might actually work in the Chiefs’ favor when it comes to price.
Spotrac projects Pierce to land a four-year deal worth $63.9 million - roughly $16 million per season. That’s a fair number for a player who could immediately slot in as the Chiefs’ top outside threat, allowing Rice to operate more freely underneath and across the middle.
The fit makes a lot of sense schematically, but again, the cap situation looms large. The Colts have the money to keep Pierce and will likely try to do just that.
Still, if Kansas City can find a way to maneuver the cap - and they’ve done it before - adding Pierce and a back like Etienne could reshape this offense overnight. Mahomes doesn’t need a superstar cast to be great, but giving him a few more dynamic weapons could be the difference between another playoff run and another Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have some tough decisions ahead. But with the right moves, they could reload and reassert themselves as the league’s most dangerous offense.