A beloved Chiefs underdog is dangerously close to getting squeezed out

No player provided more excitement in last year’s preseason for the Chiefs than Carson Steele. His status as a rookie undrafted free agent added even more suspense to his results upon making the team. Now, entering 2025, Kansas City has a bit of a mixed bag to sort through at the running back spot.

Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, and Steele return from last year’s roster. Brashard Smith was a seventh-round pick last April. Elijah Mitchell was a cheap signing for the Chiefs in this offseason’s free agency. And among this year’s rookie undrafted free agents, Elijah Young is looking to make his own impact.

How the Chiefs go about constructing their backfield for the start of the season is one of the biggest roster-related questions they have to sort through. Is it fair to wonder about Carson Steele’s status amidst the final roster decisions? All in all, the team can utilize him in so many ways. But also, Kansas City may see other opportunities to upgrade the running back depth after final roster cuts across the NFL.

How Steele can boost the Chiefs

The versatility that Carson Steele provides is one of his greatest calling cards. He can not only run the ball. In fact, his ability on special teams is something the team can heavily rely on. His results as a returner were adequate throughout parts of last season. And even as a pass catcher or pass protector, Steele is not a complete pushover.

Those added elements will likely be what keep him on the roster if he avoids being cut. At the same time, the Chiefs did add multiple names to serve in pass-catching roles at running back or in the return game this offseason. Smith has already jumped out in training camp with his pass-catching prowess. Obviously, being a player who converted from wide receiver to running back in college increases his comfort in that area.

And in the return game, Nikko Remigio had a stellar finish to last season. Nonetheless, rookies Smith and Nohl Williams each had extensive return experience from their college football careers. Steele could possibly fall to the fourth option, at best, among kick return reps.

Chiefs have to find more running back talent at some point

Given how long the Chiefs waited to draft a running back this offseason, it feels like they grew completely gun-shy about utilizing heavy resources on the position. But at some point, Kansas City has to find a can't-miss running back for the long-term future. Anything to help offset what defenses are focusing on when facing Patrick Mahomes would be huge for this already consistent team.

Steele is obviously a hard worker. His story last season was incredible to follow. But if the team sees an opportunity to add even more talent in the backfield, they should not hesitate to pull the trigger. Getting by with average results as a rushing offense should not be the norm. There will always be plenty of running backs available after roster cutdown day. Do not discount Steele being edged out if an outside name joins the fray as the regular season begins.

Will fullback role actually materialize?

Carson Steele had more regular running back reps than most anticipated last season. Given his aforementioned versatility and build at the position, many believed he would serve in a hybrid fullback role. Instead, the Chiefs rarely tasked him in that capacity.

Andy Reid has liked to have a fullback during most of his Kansas City tenure. But in the end, there is still only so much added value that a fullback can have in today’s NFL. The Chiefs are not an offense that operates like the Detroit Lions or the Baltimore Ravens.

Rarely, if ever, are you going to see the K.C. offensive attack repeatedly go after you with the ground-and-pound game. If a true fullback role does not materialize for Carson Steele, is he in danger of seeing fewer reps?