Kansas City’s new running back has already landed on the NFLPA’s radar.
Kenneth Walker III was named to the annual Rising Stars list released earlier this week by the NFL Players Association, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. The list is split into two groups: 10 rookies whom the NFLPA projects will eventually join the Top 50 list for licensed player product sales, and 10 players with NFL experience who have not yet cracked that Top 50. Walker is in that veteran group, which is led by New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough.
The Chiefs do not have any rookies on the list. That stands out a bit, especially with new cornerback Mansoor Delane absent despite his prominent draft slot.
The veteran side of the list also features Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride, Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook, and New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
For Walker, the recognition comes at a moment when opportunity is clearly in front of him. He was viewed as a workmanlike back with the Seattle Seahawks after a down yera in 2024, but he broke out big last season as a playmaker, and Walker cemented his reputation in that regard by becoming a Super Bowl MVP.
He has also made it clear he wants more carries, and the Chiefs should be willing to give him them if he keeps averaging 4.6 yards per carry. That kind of production would help take some of the burden off an offense that has leaned almost entirely on quarterback Patrick Mahomes to create plays, especially with Mahomes still rehabilitating from a serious knee injury.
Even with Walker in the fold, Kansas City still has work to do. The offensive line remains unsettled, and the Chiefs offense has never been built to pile up huge ground-game numbers.
Still, this list matters because agents and companies pay close attention to it when looking for product pitchmen. If Walker delivers, the opportunities should follow.
Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce have long been everywhere as pitchmen, and that’s part of the appeal of Kansas City. Walker got the big contract, and now he has a chance to turn success on the field into the kind of merch and promotion money that comes with making it in Kansas City.
In Other News...
Chiefs Fans Just Got Their First Glimpse Of Life After Arrowhead
The first visual step toward life after Arrowhead arrived with the Chiefs unveiling initial design concepts for their new stadium in Wyandotte County, Kansas, a project that is being built around a very different look and feel from the home fans have known for decades. Set to open for the 2031 season, the $3 billion venue is planned as a dome with a translucent ETFE roof and a capacity of about 70,000, while the team also continues laying out its broader move by shifting its practice facility and headquarters to Olathe.
MANICA was chosen as the stadiums design firm after Populous also made the final round, giving the project a clearer architectural direction as the Chiefs start to turn a long-term plan into something tangible. For supporters, the renderings are only the beginning, but they offer the first real glimpse of how the franchise intends to balance a new era with the identity it built at Arrowhead. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Face A Familiar Roster Battle Over A Specialist Spot
Nikko Remigio entered the summer as one of the more interesting depth players on Kansas Citys roster, a wide receiver with return value who has been trying to carve out a place on a team that always seems to have more options than openings. The Chiefs need dependable production from the specialist spots, and Remigios case is complicated by the fact that his offensive role has been limited while his return work has not separated him from the pack.
Brashard Smith, Emmett Johnson, Jeff Caldwell and Jacob De Jesus all give the Chiefs different ways to rethink that part of the roster, and the conversation does not stop with the young players already in camp. Veteran free-agent names such as Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen and Stefon Diggs also linger as the kind of outside possibilities that can change a specialist battle quickly, which is why Remigios hold on a 53-man spot feels anything but secure. [Read more 🡒]