Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is joining a new team, per reports
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Isiah Pacheco signs with Detroit, becoming fifth 2022 Chiefs draftee to depart.
- Pacheco is expected to be in the mix to replace David Montgomery.
- Only George Karlaftis remains from Kansas City’s 2022 draft after multiple moves.
The purging of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2022 draft class continues.
On the second day of the NFL’s legal negotiating window, running back Isiah Pacheco became the fifth member of the class to land with another team for the 2026 season.
According to multiple reports Tuesday, Pacheco will sign with the Detroit Lions when the new league year begins Wednesday. Kansas City agreed to sign marquee free agent running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year deal Monday.
Kansas City selected Pacheco, 27, out of Rutgers in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Midway through his rookie season in 2022, Pacheco replaced Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the team’s starting running back.
Pacheco’s best year was 2023, when he rushed 205 times for 935 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 appearances. He added 244 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Pacheco finished his four-year Chiefs career with 3,091 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns.
Pacheco should be in the mix to replace David Montgomery, who Detroit recently traded to the Houston Texans. Lions starter Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most dynamic backs in the NFL, but head coach Dan Campbell has shown a preference for a two-back attack rather than a bell-cow approach.
At the time of this writing, only one member of the Chiefs’ 2022 draft class remains with the club: defensive end George Karlaftis, who signed an extension last offseason.
Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are now with the Los Angeles Rams, and Joshua Williams will sign with the Tennessee Titans. Safety Bryan Cook agreed to join the Cincinnati Bengals.
Linebacker Leo Chenal and cornerback Nazeeh Johnson remain unrestricted free agents.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 1:14 PM.
