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Emmett Johnson could land with the hometown Vikings.
The Kansas City Chiefs have finally addressed their offense in the 2026 NFL Draft.
They traded up from the 169th pick to No. 161 in the fifth round with the Pittsburgh Steelers, selecting running back Emmett Johnson.
The Chiefs and Steelers also swapped seventh round picks, as Kansas City now has No. 249, and Pittsburgh getting No. 210.
Johnson was extremely productive for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2025, racking up a whopping 1,451 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He is a dual-threat back, as he also posted 46 receptions for 370 yards and three touchdowns.
Here is NFL.com’s scouting report on Johnson:
“Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed. He steps on the accelerator once he touches the ball, but the run becomes segmented when he attempts to cut laterally. He struggles to create for himself when the point of entry is cloudy. Johnson can beat linebackers to the run fit but won’t usually run through them with power. He’s able to help as a pass-catcher and projects as a solid backup best suited for downhill concepts.”
Kansas City Chiefs Suddenly Have Loaded Running Back Room
GettyKenneth Walker III
The Chiefs already signed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III during free agency, as well as former Arizona Cardinals RB Emari Demercado. With second-year man Brashard Smith in the mix as well, Kansas City has a lot of dangerous options at the position.
Developing. . .
Nick Roesch Nick Roesch covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, with a focus on the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Chiefs for USA TODAY Sports' Chiefs Wire, and all 32 NFL teams for A to Z Sports. Roesch's career in sports media spans 10 years. More about Nick Roesch