Chiefs might regret letting Texans sign Nick Chubb before training camps open

It feels generous to call them the Nick Chubb sweepstakes at this point in his career, but the chase is over to sign the veteran free-agent running back. Chubb is expected to sign with the Houston Texans on Monday, per NFL reporter Ian Rapoport.

Chubb was one of the most well-known free agents remaining available for teams with several weeks to go before training camps open up.

Instead of waiting to see how Chubb is progressing even more from injury or giving in-house options some time to compete first before turning to an older option, the Texans decided to seize the moment and keep other franchises away. That list includes the Kansas City Chiefs.

Were the Chiefs ever really in the mix?

Two things are important to state from the jump here:

1. The Chiefs were never linked to Chubb via any official interest or substantive report.
2. Opinions are widely varied about the Chiefs' RB room and whether any further additions are even warranted.

For some fans, the idea of the Chiefs having any interest in Chubb will feel silly in the first place. There's an argument to be made there. Chubb has played in only 10 games since 2022, and in 8 games last season for the Cleveland Browns, Chubb averaged a career-worst 3.3 yards/carry. To complicate matters, Chubb's season was ended prematurely in mid-December with a broken foot (suffered against the Chiefs).

To further make the point (on one side), the Chiefs have also already made their offseason investments at running back in seventh-round choice Brashard Smith and free agents Elijah Mitchell and Kareem Hunt. Isiah Pacheco is also focused on his health and playing weight in a contract year for the Chiefs.

Why Chubb made some sense for the Chiefs

While all of this is true, doubts remain about whether or not the Chiefs are really "set" in the offensive backfield. Pacheco's injury history isn't pretty and yet he's a much more reliable player than Mitchell, who hasn't been relevant since 2021. Hunt was a heartening story for the Chiefs as a short-yardage add in a homecoming of sorts, but his aging skill set creates questions as well.

Meanwhile, Chubb has looked very impressive in offseason workout videos posted on social media this spring. In attempts to prove that he isn't finished in the NFL, despite the broken foot and fairly recent knee surgery, Chubb has been lifting weights, leaping hurdles, and showing off his tremendous strength and athleticism in displays meant to inspire belief in teams like the Texans.

Given the Chiefs' history of adding veteran running backs on the cheap, and their position to provide a championship run for older players, it made sense for the team to potentially give Chubb a closer look. Hunt was a veteran flyer last September. Carlos Hyde and Ronald Jones have been around K.C. as well.

Our own Adam Best and Sterling Holmes (via the Arrowhead Addict podcast) discussed a potential Chubb addition for the Chiefs shortly after the 2025 NFL Draft. Candace Pedraza of Dawg Pound Daily pegged the Chiefs as Chubb's next destination as well. And they weren't the only ones who thought Chubb would look best in red and gold.

Suffice it to say, for those who believe the Chiefs' backfield is not yet in its finished form, Chubb was a sensible option for general manager Brett Veach to consider. Alas that is now off the table. The Texans have claimed Chubb for now, and it will be interesting to see just how much he has left in the tank. For some fans, it might turn into a case of "what might have been" in K.C.