{"id":266467,"date":"2026-02-21T09:30:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T14:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=266467"},"modified":"2026-02-21T09:30:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T14:30:48","slug":"chiefs-could-land-1000-yard-rusher-javonte-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2026\/02\/21\/chiefs-could-land-1000-yard-rusher-javonte-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Could Land 1,000-Yard Rusher Javonte Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Kansas City Chiefs could use an upgrade at the running back position. Javonte Williams will be one of the NFL\u2019s top running back free agents this offseason. With that said, a Williams-to-Kansas City scenario certainly makes sense.<\/p>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.arrowheadpride.com\/kansas-city-chiefs-analysis\/194367\/nfl-free-agency-3-running-backs-chiefs-should-target\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Caleb James<\/a> of Arrowhead Pride wrote an article about free agent running backs the Chiefs should target. Williams, of course, appeared on the list:<\/p>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<div id=\"3-javonte-williams\" class=\"_12tz1yh1 _12tz1yh0 duet--article--standard-heading ls9zuh1\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup\"><strong>\u201c3. Javonte Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">If the Chiefs want to land somewhere between (Kenneth) Gainwell and (Breece) Hall on the financial side of things, Williams is a good player to look at. <a  href=\"https:\/\/overthecap.com\/player\/javonte-williams\/9499\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">According to <em>Over The Cap<\/em><\/a>, the valuation of his annual market value is just over $9 million. Williams is more than just a bruiser. His ability to create momentum after clearing the initial wave of defenders and reaching top speed is impressive. Given Williams\u2019 play style, the projected seven-digit annual salary would be a worthwhile investment for the Chiefs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Williams spent the 2025 season with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/cowboys\/\" target=\"_self\">Dallas Cowboys<\/a>. Will he take his talents to Kansas City?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Chiefs Could Land 1,000-Yard Rusher Javonte Williams<\/h2>\n<h3>Williams\u2019 Career<\/h3>\n<p>Javonte Williams starred at Wallace-Rose Hill High School in Teachey, North Carolina. He rushed for 2,271 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns during his senior year.<\/p>\n<p>Williams then committed to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During his final season with the Tar Heels (2020), he rushed for 1,140 yards and 19 touchdowns, making the All-ACC Second Team.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/broncos\/\" target=\"_self\">Denver Broncos<\/a> later selected Javonte Williams in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He rushed for 903 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 43 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. For his efforts, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.<sup id=\"cite_ref-24\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><sup id=\"cite_ref-17\" class=\"reference\"><\/sup><\/p>\n<div class=\"mw-heading mw-heading3\">\n<p id=\"2022_season\">In 2022, Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/raiders\/page\/3\/\" target=\"_self\">Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>. But fortunately, he bounced back the following year, leading the Broncos with 774 rushing yards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Williams led the Broncos in rushing yards again in 2024 with 513 yards. He also finished second on the team in receptions with 52.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Last offseason, the Cowboys signed Williams to a one-year deal worth just $3.5 million. The former North Carolina Tar Heel was brought in to compete with <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/07\/13\/breaking-cowboys-could-trade-former-eagle-legend-miles-sanders-will-anyone-get-him\/\" target=\"_self\">Miles Sanders<\/a> for <\/span><span>the starting job. However, Williams separated himself from Sanders and put together a breakout year. This past season, he rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns (both career-highs).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Would He Be a Good Pickup for the Chiefs?<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_250962\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-250962\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" class=\"wp-image-250962 size-large\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/USATSI_27198304_168419650_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-250962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams (33) runs against Green Bay Packers defensive end Micah Parsons (1) and safety Evan Williams (33) in the second quarter at AT&amp;T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The Chiefs\u2019 running back rotation underperformed in 2025. <span>They ranked 25th in total rushing yards (1,812), 22nd in yards per carry (4.2), last in 20-plus yard carries (three) and last in 40-plus yard carries (tied with four other teams with zero).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The unit consisted of <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/14\/latest-chiefs-loss-may-signal-top-2026-free-agent-isiah-pacheco-departure\/\" target=\"_self\">Isiah Pacheco<\/a>, Kareem Hunt, and Brashard Smith. Hunt led the way with 611 yards.<\/p>\n<p><span>Right now, Smith is the Chiefs\u2019 only running back under contract in 2026. Javonte Williams would be a great pickup, who could help the team immensely next season. He\u2019s known as a bruiser, who has the ability to break tackles often.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"duet--article--article-body-component\">\n<p>Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes got <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/12\/14\/patrick-mahomes-injury-update-chiefs-playoff-elimination\/\" target=\"_self\">injured<\/a> late in the 2025 season. The three-time Super Bowl champ should return at some point next season, though. Mahomes will need to be surrounded by as much talent as possible. And adding Javonte Williams to the team would certainly help.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Main Image: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In need of an upgrade at the running back position, the Kansas City Chiefs could sign Javonte Williams this offseason.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4890,"featured_media":266471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6431,16],"tags":[7580,7466,2234,2186],"class_list":["post-266467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl-teams","category-chiefs","tag-javonte-williams","tag-kansas-city-chiefs-news","tag-kareem-hunt","tag-patrick-mahomes-ii"],"modified_by":"Mike Roberts","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4890"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=266467"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":266538,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/266467\/revisions\/266538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/266471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=266467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=266467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=266467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}