The Kansas City Chiefs have a bit of a backfield logjam.
The returners include Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Carson Steele.
Then you add in veteran Elijah Mitchell, brought over after time with the 49ers, and rookie Brashard Smith, who starred at SMU.
There probably isn't room for every one of those guys in the RB room.
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That's why Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport is pitching the idea that the Chiefs should cut Steele before the season gets underway.
"There’s no denying that Carson Steele was a fan favorite as a rookie a year ago—the preseason sensation with the flowing long hair," Davenport writes. "When injuries hit Kansas City’s running backs last year, Steele actually made three starts. And therein lies the rub. Steele just wasn’t good when that opportunity arose. Steele averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in 2024 and put the ball on the ground three times. Neither of those numbers belie job security."
There's only one possible saving grace for Steele: On the Chiefs' depth chart, he's actually been listed as a fullback.
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If Andy Reid sees utility for Steele as a bigger back on the field at the same time as one of the halfbacks, and if he sees those formations as ones he would call upon frequently enough, then Steele might get to stick around.
Otherwise, his best bet might be the practice squad, if another team doesn't claim him first when the Chiefs try to move him down.
It might be early to give up on Steele entirely, but Kansas City also hasn't necessarily given itself a ton of choice in the matter. There's certainly a roster crunch coming in some form.
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