Once the legal tampering window opens, expect the Kansas City Chiefs to be active in the running back market - and for good reason. After a 2025 campaign that saw their backfield struggle to generate big plays, Kansas City is in the market for more explosiveness. Head coach Andy Reid has acknowledged as much since the season wrapped, and with Patrick Mahomes on the mend from a torn ACL, the run game could take on a more prominent role in 2026.
There are plenty of styles available among this year’s free-agent backs, but one name stands out as a potential fit: Rico Dowdle. He checks a lot of boxes for what Kansas City needs - burst, versatility, and the ability to make defenders miss in space.
And with the Chiefs currently sitting at the bottom of the league in available cap space, they’ll need to be strategic. Dowdle, projected to command around $6.5 million annually, could be a value pickup in a rising cap environment.
Dowdle’s looking for a larger role this offseason after expressing frustration with his usage in Carolina down the stretch. And frankly, he’s earned the right to want more.
After a surprisingly modest deal last offseason, he followed up a solid 2024 with an even stronger 2025 - racking up 1,076 rushing yards at 4.6 yards per carry, plus 297 receiving yards. That kind of production, especially in a timeshare situation, suggests he’s ready for a heavier load.
Durability has also been on his side. Dowdle has appeared in 49 games over the past three seasons, starting 26 of them - all in the last two years. That kind of availability matters, especially for a team like Kansas City that’s looking for reliability in the backfield.
And then there’s the explosiveness. According to Pro Football Focus, Dowdle ripped off 24 runs of 10 or more yards in 2025 - a figure that places him near the top 15 in the league.
Fantasy Pros also ranks him highly in both explosive run rate and missed tackle rate. He’s not just a between-the-tackles grinder; he’s a playmaker.
And in the screen game? He’s slippery enough to turn a routine checkdown into a chunk gain - something Kansas City has lacked from its backs in recent years.
Stack that up against what the Chiefs have gotten out of the backfield the last two seasons, and it’s clear Dowdle would be a major upgrade. Outside of short-yardage and red-zone situations, the Chiefs’ run game has largely been an afterthought. Dowdle could change that dynamic in a hurry, bringing a combination of vision, patience, and acceleration that would give Reid more flexibility - and defenses more to think about.
Of course, Reid has always leaned pass-heavy, and Mahomes’ presence naturally tilts the offense in that direction. But with Mahomes rehabbing a major knee injury, there’s a real opportunity - and maybe even a necessity - to shift toward a more balanced attack. That’s where someone like Dowdle becomes even more valuable.
The question is whether Kansas City is ready to commit to a more consistent run game. Dowdle wants a bigger role, and he’s factoring that into his free-agent decision. If the Chiefs are willing to give him that opportunity, they could land a back who not only fills a need but elevates the entire offense in 2026.