ClutchPoints
With a disappointing end to their 2024 season, the Kansas City Chiefs entered the offseason with clear needs to address in free agency. After suffering from one of the worst run games all season, the Chiefs addressed one of those areas by signing running back Elijah Mitchell.
Coming off a lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs have taken an unexpected approach to the offseason. General manager Brett Veach started the process by trading former All-Pro guard Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, only to additionally lose Tershawn Wharton, Josh Uche, DeAndre Hopkins and Derrick Nnadi in free agency.
While in no position to make a big splash in free agency, Kansas City still managed to pry two key players away from the San Francisco 49ers. Right after signing Mitchell, Veach pulled a bigger fish by signing left tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal. Moore projects to be one of just two new offensive starters in 2025.
The majority of the Chiefs’ offseason additions came in the draft, where they left with seven new rookies. Kansas City made tackle Josh Simmons the final pick of the first round while also notably adding cornerback Nohl Williams, wideout Jalen Royals and edge-rusher Ashton Gillotte.
However, signing Mitchell was still the Chiefs’ best offseason move. While not the type of game-changer who will shake up the league, Mitchell can potentially make fans wonder how he joined Kansas City’s dynasty for only $3.5 million.
Appearing in just 27 games through four years, Elijah Mitchell’s biggest concern has always been his lack of durability. His availability issues peaked in 2024 when the former sixth-round pick missed the entire season due to a hamstring injury.
As he hobbled into the 2025 offseason, Mitchell lost all the momentum he gained early in his career. Despite entering the league as an afterthought, Mitchell took over the 49ers’ backfield as a rookie, running for 963 yards and five touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry. Yet, three years later, teams merely view him as an injury-prone 27-year-old with just 560 total rushing yards since 2022.
Regardless, there is a reason Kansas City made Mitchell its first signing in free agency. The Chiefs desperately need running back help, and Mitchell was available at a discount. Veach quickly came to terms with the former 49ers standout, forking over just a few million dollars to seal the deal. His injury history is a massive red flag, but his current price tag makes him a low-risk, high-reward asset.
At a glance, Mitchell’s numbers have not lived up to his rookie year expectations. He has not surpassed 281 yards since then and averaged just 25 yards per game in 2023. But with San Francisco acquiring Christian McCaffrey early in the 2022 season, his career never got the chance to fully develop. Perhaps injuries would have derailed him regardless, but there were moments earlier in their shared timeline when Mitchell...
