The Chiefs continue to revamp their running backs room. After agreeing to a deal with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, the team is now adding Emari Demercado to the mix, per Jordan Schultz.
The former Cardinals running back is joining Kansas City via a one-year deal. The signing comes following a tumultuous final season in Arizona for Demercado.
The third-year RB entered the season as the RB3 behind James Conner and Trey Benson, but he mostly stuck in the role even after each of his teammates suffered season-ending injuries. He got a look alongside replacements Michael Carter and Bam Knight in Week 5 prior to a headline-grabbing gaffe.
Demercado was set to score on a 72-yard touchdown run but let go of the ball for a touchback right before he crossed the goal line. The Cardinals led 21-6 at the time and proceeded to lose the game. Now-fired coach Jonathan Gannon was seen yelling at his RB after the play, and the coach eventually incurred a $100K fine after appearing to shove Demercado.
The 27-year-old rebounded temporarily with a 79 rushing yards in Week 9 and 104 yards from scrimmage in Week 10. A high-ankle sprain later knocked him out for three weeks, and he tallied only 108 total yards in four games following his return.
The former UDFA has shown some occasional flashes throughout his career, and he’s showcased some ability as both a rusher and a pass-catcher. The Chiefs made Walker their biggest splash of this week, giving the RB close to $29MM in guaranteed money to replace Isiah Pacheco. With Kareem Hunt also unsigned, Demercado could easily slide into the RB2 role in Kansas City, although he may see some competition from 2025 seventh-round pick Brashard Smith.
I was hoping the Falcons would snag him…Chiefs RB room looking much better for them next season.