He’s Fast, Fearless, and Just What Mahomes Needs—Meet the Chiefs’ Late-Round Lightning Bolt!

In the high-octane world of Kansas City Chiefs football, speed and explosiveness are non-negotiable—and it looks like the team may have struck gold with their 7th-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With the 248th overall selection, the Chiefs nabbed Brashard Smith, a dynamic running back from SMU who’s already being hailed as the next big weapon in Andy Reid’s offensive arsenal.

At 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, Smith may not have the build of a traditional bruiser, but his game is anything but small. Known for his blazing speed and breakaway ability, Smith torched college defenses to the tune of over 1,600 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns throughout his career. His final season saw him average an electric 6.3 yards per carry—numbers that caught the attention of scouts and analysts alike. “He’s a home-run hitter,” said NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. “If he sees daylight, he’s gone.”

The Chiefs’ backfield in 2024 was steady but lacked the explosive spark that once made their offense so feared. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt delivered solid performances but were more grinders than game-breakers. Brashard Smith could be the lightning bolt Kansas City needs to stretch defenses and reintroduce the threat of a big play from the backfield.

But Smith’s potential impact doesn’t stop at running the football. He also brings significant value as a return specialist—something the Chiefs have lacked since Tyreek Hill’s departure. At SMU, Smith returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and routinely flipped field position with his vision, agility, and fearless attitude. It’s that special teams versatility that made General Manager Brett Veach confident enough to take a late-round flyer on him. “We saw Brashard as a guy who can contribute in multiple phases of the game,” Veach said after the draft. “He’s got that ‘it’ factor.”

What makes this move especially intriguing is how perfectly Smith’s skill set fits into the Chiefs’ current offensive structure. With Patrick Mahomes extending plays and drawing defenders out of position, a fast, instinctive back like Smith can thrive in space. One missed assignment by a linebacker, and Smith could be off to the races.

Of course, as a Day 3 pick, nothing is guaranteed. Smith will have to earn his reps in training camp and fight for snaps behind proven veterans. But if there’s one coach known for turning overlooked talent into stars, it’s Andy Reid. Past examples like Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson show that in Kansas City, draft position means little if the skill and work ethic are there.

As the Chiefs look to rebound from their 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, injecting new life into the offense is a top priority. Brashard Smith may have arrived with little fanfare, but don’t be surprised if this late-round lightning bolt becomes the jolt Kansas City needs to reignite its championship fire.