(Photo: The Seattle Times)
I remember in October of 2021, I previewed a game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans. At the time of the matchup, Michigan was ranked sixth in the country and Michigan State was ranked eighth, making this a battle of rivals ranked in the top ten. Sparty wound up winning that Saturday afternoon in East Lansing, and a large part of that victory was due to the efforts of a running back named Kenneth Walker III, who finished the day with 23 carries, 197 rushing yards, and five touchdowns against a very stout Wolverines defense. At that time, I thought he was the projected favorite to win the Heisman, but Bryce Young would go on to win the award that season. In 2022, the Seattle Seahawks drafted Kenneth in the second round with the 41st overall pick, and he became an immediate contributor to the Seahawks’ offense—especially this past season, when Seattle won its second Super Bowl title in franchise history. The Seahawks decided not to use the franchise tag, and now I wonder if they even considered extending him. Today, one of the biggest moves of the offseason took place, outside of Maxx Crosby being traded to the Baltimore Ravens. The Kansas City Chiefs have signed the reigning Super Bowl MVP to a contract—a three-year deal worth $45 million.
When he was playing his college ball at Michigan State, I labeled Kenneth as one of the most explosive runners in the country. All these years later, I can say the same thing about him at the next level in the NFL. Kenneth’s burst and acceleration are among the best in the league, and he is extremely dangerous when he hits open lanes. He has big-play ability and can turn the smallest of gaps into a 30–60 yard chunk play or even a touchdown. Along with the burst and acceleration I just mentioned, Kenneth also has elite elusiveness. His best trait is making defenders miss in tight spaces, as he possesses strong jump cuts and impressive lateral ability, allowing him to change direction quickly. Many scouts and analysts have referred to his style of play as “ankle-breaking,” with the ability to cut on a dime and make defenders miss in the backfield. Kenneth is a smaller back, standing at just 5’9″, but that means absolutely nothing when you watch how he runs. With his style, you would think he was at least six feet tall based on the power he displays. Last season, he finished the year with 739 yards after contact, which shows how difficult he is to bring down. He frequently breaks arm tackles in space as well. I wouldn’t necessarily label Kenneth as a true power back, but he runs much harder than people give him credit for and harder than his size would suggest. Since entering the NFL, Kenneth has consistently ranked high in explosive runs, and his ability to flip field position makes him a home-run threat every time he touches the football.
The Chiefs had a down year last season, winning only six games. This was their worst record since the 2012 season, when they finished 2–14. I remember throughout last season I kept clamoring for them to run the football more, but they never fully committed to it. I even remember saying at the trade deadline that they should have made a move to acquire Breece Hall from the New York Jets. If they had done that, their season might have been saved. The signing of KW3 tells me they are looking to be more balanced offensively this upcoming season. With Eric Bieniemy back as the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, he will make sure Kenneth is frequently involved in the offense. This move will work if they fully commit to it. As for the Seahawks, you just let the reason you won a Super Bowl walk away—into the hands of another team that has already been a perennial title threat.
