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'I had that similar role when I came in here' — Isiah Pacheco sees similarities between himself and Chiefs rookie RB Brashard Smith

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Charles Goldman | Last updated Jul 23, 2025 6:23 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs waited until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft to add firepower to their running back room, selecting the wide receiver convert Brashard Smith out of SMU.

It's a situation reminiscent of the 2022 NFL Draft, when the Chiefs waited until Round 7 to select Rutgers RB Isiah Pacheco. It's not just their seventh-round draft status that Pacheco and Smith share, though. With training camp underway, Smith is playing a similar role and following a trail that No. 10 once blazed as a rookie in Kansas City, according to Pacheco.

"I had that similar role when I came in here," Pacheco said. "It's just finding ways to get better, whether that's on the special teams, wherever it may be, building a relationship with guys so you could learn a little bit more about them. And as far as the game on itself, competing."

We're already seeing that role begin to take root for the rookie Smith through two days of practice. He's getting opportunities with the first-team offense, working out of the backfield as a receiver for Patrick Mahomes. Arrowhead Addict's Price Carter caught this clip of 11-on-11 during practice.

Mahomes to Brashard Smith. Smooth out in the flats for the former WR. pic.twitter.com/eclspGvUxQ
— Price Carter (@priceacarter) July 23, 2025

That's the type of role that most expect from him in the Chiefs' offense initially, using his background as a wide receiver while working out of the backfield at running back. We're also seeing a role take shape on special teams as a return specialist, where he'll compete against the likes of Xavier Worthy, Nikko Remigio, Elijah Badger, Jalen Royals, Skyy Moore, and Tyquan Thornton at punt and kick returner.

Pacheco worked hard throughout his rookie training camp back in 2022, and by the seventh game of the 2022 NFL season, he had taken over as the Chiefs' starting running back. Smith faces steeper competition in Kansas City on offense than Pacheco did as a rookie, with a room filled with versatile skill sets.

"We've got guys that you can depend on, you know, as far as saying that you're only doing one thing," Pacheco said. "You can't just say that about us guys, playing all (these) different roles. I'm having fun with it, just competing."

So long as Smith continues to do everything the coaching staff has asked of him, he'll be setting himself up to have a role during the 2025 NFL season. How significant that role is remains to be seen.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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