Chiefs Sign RB Kenneth Walker III to 3-Year Deal

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The Kansas City Chiefs have signed running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year, $43.05 million contract, with $28.7 million fully guaranteed. The deal provides the Chiefs with a workhorse back to solidify their backfield, while also giving the team flexibility to potentially move on after the first two years of the contract.

Why it matters

The Chiefs have struggled with their running game in recent seasons, so the signing of Walker III addresses a key need for the team. The contract structure also allows Kansas City to manage their salary cap situation and potentially pursue additional free agents this offseason.

The details

The contract is structured as a two-year deal in practice, with the third year easily movable. In 2028, Walker III has an $18.6 million cap hit, but the Chiefs can save $14.35 million by releasing him with a pre-June 1 designation. Additionally, no guaranteed money is allocated for the third year. In 2027, Walker III has the same $18.6 million cap hit, but $14.35 million is guaranteed, locking him in as a Chief through that season. For 2026, Walker III carries a $5.6 million cap hit, which is only 1.9% of the total cap.

• The Chiefs signed Walker III to the three-year contract on March 15, 2026.

What’s next

The Chiefs will look to integrate Walker III into their offense and continue to build around him as their lead back. They will also monitor the roster situation in 2028 to determine if they want to keep Walker III on the team for the final year of his contract.