Chiefs Trade Idea Sends 4th Year Underperformer To Washington
The Kansas City Chiefs may be on the lookout for some additional talent as they have come back from their dismal 0-2 start to be just one game out from AFC West leaders, the Denver Broncos.
But it is also not implausible that they could look to discard pieces of value that serve little to no functional purpose to the team moving forward. One position group where they could think to do this, and trim down what has become a very crowded room, is at running back.
Isiah Pacheco started as the lead back for the team, and has maintained that position for the duration of the season, with the sole exception of week 4’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, where he saw only 37% of offensive snaps as the team laid out Lamar Jackson’s team in a resounding victory.
Chiefs Could Look To Move Off Starting Offensive Player
But Pacheco does not feel like the same kind of angry, aggressive runner he once was earlier in his career.
Although his metrics have not decreased dramatically since 2023, and are actually up slightly on his 2024 performance, it feels like the momentum is starting to shift away from him and towards veteran back, Kareem Hunt, or even seventh round rookie, Brashard Smith.
So in this trade proposal, the Chiefs trade away Pacheco, whose contract is up at the end of the season, to the Washington Commanders.
Fans and media alike have been begging head coach, Andy Reid and co. to let Smith get more touches of the ball and see more time on offense, and in the meantime Kareem Hunt provides very similar efficiency to Pacheco in the run game – 4 yards/carry vs 4.2 yards/carry.
The team also have Elijah Mitchell; who missed the entirety of the 2024 season with a hamstring injury, but has been very productive earlier in his career, including a 963 yard rushing season in his rookie year for the San Francisco 49ers; and has yet to see the field this season on offense.
What Would The Chiefs Get In Return For Isiah Pacheco?
It is not clear exactly what Pacheco’s value is. On the one hand he is a starting running back in the NFL, who has played by no means terribly in 2025.
On the other, he is out of contract in March, and notions of an extensions have not been widely reported on.
To make the matters worse, he recently suffered an MCL injury, that should keep him out for the next couple of games as he remains “week-to-week” with the injury.
Yet, it seems like week-11, post the team’s bye is a realistic target return date for the one-time 7th round draft pick, who admittedly has vastly overplayed his draft position back in 2022.
The eventual answer is that the Chiefs will not get a ton for Pacheco. But if they feel like in this season, Hunt and Smith are the way forward, and they can recoup some draft compensation for him, then a move could certainly make sense for both them and the Commanders, who could use some support for another rookie 7th rounder, Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Washington Commanders receive: Isiah Pacheco, 2026 seventh round pick
Kansas City Chiefs receive: 2026 fifth round pick
Packers’ Offseason Acquisition Speaks Out After Benching
The Green Bay Packers had a strong win over Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
The defense allowed less than 300 total yards on offense, and the offense put up over 450 on Mike Tomlin’s prized side of the ball.
One thing that did stand out for Green Bay was the fact that head coach, Matt LaFleur, and defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, decided to bench offseason free agent acquisition, Nate Hobbs, who signed a 4 year, $48 million deal this offseason to come to Wisconsin.
Hobbs had a few misgivings in training camp, including some “overenthusiastic” big hits on offensive players, but started all six of the team’s opening games.
Nate Hobbs Reveals What He Needs To Do To Improve Game Post-Benching
However, after what has been a slightly shaky start, the team made a clear decision to start former seventh round pick, Carrington Valentine, over him on the perimeter opposite Keisean Nixon, with second year slot, Javon Bullard, manning the slot.
And speaking on Wednesday, Hobbs described how he felt losing his spot in the starting lineup, and what he plans to do to get back there.
Nate Hobbs spoke for about 10 minutes today about being benched. Story coming later, but he said of what he needs to do better:
“Just 100% of the snaps, be wired in and focused like I am most of the snaps.”
“Just 100% of the snaps be wired in and focused like I am most of the snaps, 400% of the time.” Hobbs said to the Green Bay media on Wednesday. “Corner is a position that if you give up 10% of catches that you on the field, and the other 90% you’re doing your job, you still can be considered not doing your job and not playing good. Just been focused 100% of the time.”
Will The Packers Look To Reinforce The Defense Prior To The Trade Deadline?
The secondary could certainly use some help, and would be the obvious positional addition for the team prior to the trade deadline in five days time, but it could be that LaFleur and general manager, Brian Gutekunst, take another route on a last-gasp trade.
Ben Solak of ESPN suggests that the team could instead look to stock up on defensive linemen in a potential trade, such as Tennessee Titans defensive tackle, Sebastian Joseph-Day.
“Titans defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day.” Solak wrote on Wednesday. “The Packers are thin on the defensive interior after the departure of Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade, and Wyatt’s injury has served as a stark reminder of that vulnerability. Joseph-Day is a stout run defender on a one-year deal — perfect for patching one of the few remaining holes on a Super Bowl contender.”
The Packers’ run defense has been one of the best in the league, coming in at third in the NFL in allowing opponents less than 79 rushing yards per game.
Much of that does come down to teams needing to pass more, as Green Bay tends to play with a lead more than the average team due to the high-powered nature of the offense. Yet, at the same time, the franchise is managing to cope in the aftermath of the Clark trade to Dallas.
If the Packers do bring someone in, they will assuredly look to find a clear, bona fide difference maker.
