ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes shook his head side to side, looking into the distance while taking an extra moment to think.The Kansas City Chiefs’ 10th-year quarterback was asked what intrigued him most about the 2026 version of the team’s offense — one that, based on this year’s training camp, has the potential to feature more under-center dropbacks, versatility and speed compared with a season ago.In the end, though, Mahomes couldn’t get one thought out of his mind.Or one player, that is.“No. 9,” Mahomes said. “That’s all I can say.”Mahomes, in other words, is most excited for a part of the Chiefs offense the outside world hasn’t seen just yet.How Eric Bieniemy's return impacts the ChiefsJesse NewellThat would be free-agent signing Kenneth Walker III — “K9” is the running back’s nickname, thanks to his uniform number — and how he could potentially revamp Kansas City’s offense with his ability to run, catch and pass protect.“Make a play out of nothing to a 20-yard gain,” Mahomes said. “That’s going to be the biggest impact I think we’ll have.”Another future Hall of Famer is seeing things a similar way.Tight end Travis Kelce, when asked about his first impression of Walker this week, first answered with a sound instead of words:“Woooo!”“Ken Walker is going to be a hell of a ballplayer for us, if you didn’t know that already,” Kelce said. “He’s got every trait you can possibly want at the running back position.”Both Mahomes and Kelce, however, are quick to point out that this seemingly strong marriage of team and player has been about more than just football skills — and goes deeper than the potential for more explosive plays.Walker, who joined the team in March after signing a three-year contract worth $43 million (with $28.7 million guaranteed), has immediately become a culture fit thanks to his football-first mindset. And that was especially important for a Chiefs organization that feels small details were some of their biggest issues during last season’s disappointing 6-11 campaign.“He’s a hard worker, does not take anything for granted. He’s what you want,” offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said of Walker in June. “You love his approach in the building. He’s very professional in the classroom, and he hates being wrong.”‘A great dude’Chiefs personnel have raved about Walker’s personality and down-to-earth attitude — qualities that stand out even more given what Walker has already accomplished.The fifth-year pro is coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Seattle Seahawks. Not only that, he was his team’s best player in Seattle’s 29-13 win, breaking nine tackles, per NFL NextGenStats, on his way to 135 rushing yards and Super Bowl MVP honors.Mahomes said you wouldn’t know all that from how Walker works — or treats others. In May, Mahomes said his first impression of Walker was simply that he was “a great dude.”“You can tell he truly cares about football; he cares about his teammates,” Mahomes said. “If he’s not in the play, he’s helping the guys on the sideline, and he’s trying to learn and ask me questions.”Others have benefited from those team-first thoughts as well.That includes rookie running back Emmett Johnson, a fifth-round pick getting his first experience as a professional. He said Walker’s approach to his work stood out immediately, but then something else right after:Walker was somebody who cared about the entire group.“He’s very unselfish, and that’s what I love about him,” Johnson said. “We push each other on the football field, but he’s an unselfish player, and he obviously has a lot of experience. So I’m gonna do my job of picking his brain, too.”Walker, for his part, says he believes in the power of “bringing guys with me.”Though he’s only 25, Walker says he feels like a veteran. And he also knows he made mistakes early in his career that kept him from becoming more productive.One example? Walker says he didn’t take his diet seriously during his first few years. That’s why he’s talked with Johnson and the other backs about the benefits of eating cleaner and the impact it’s made on his game.“I want them to learn quicker than I learned,” Walker said, “and I don’t want it to be a drop-off at all.”The arrival of running back Kenneth Walker III, right, has put a smile on the face of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. (Kyle Rivas / Getty Images)A new role with ChiefsThere remains more for Walker to prove himself. Seattle mostly used him as an early-down back while in a timeshare with Zach Charbonnet, meaning he surrendered carries on third downs and in the red zone.That won’t be the case in Kansas City. The Chiefs will have to be smart while trying to keep Walker fresh and healthy, but he’s primed to be the clear workhorse on a team that typically rotated its backs by series last season.He’s already showcased dynamic ability on practice fields in both Kansas City and St. Joseph.“He’s going to be tough to tackle,” pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier said.“Explosive for sure,” running back Emari Demercado said.“Sometimes you’ll be like, ‘I don’t know how he did that,'” right tackle Jaylon Moore said, “but it’s awesome to see.”Walker’s potential as a Chiefs player shouldn’t be a secret much longer.If training camp is any indication, Walker figures to be heavily involved in what was a dormant screen game last season. Walker showed off his skills with a one-handed catch in organized team activities, and Reid has previously complimented the way he “catches the ball easy.”During training camp practices, Mahomes also has become the most fired up during well-executed screens to Walker. A few times, Mahomes could be heard a field away cheering Walker on as he sprinted into the open field for big gains.“Now,” Mahomes said, “it’s just finding ways to get him the football.”Handoffs will be part of that, too, as the Chiefs try to break an unwanted streak.What could be aheadKansas City hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Kareem Hunt in 2017; that’s tied for the longest drought in the NFL, along with the New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Rams.But just as the Chiefs haven’t had a running back like Walker in previous years … he also likely hasn’t run behind an offensive line as good as the Chiefs’. General manager Brett Veach shared in April that he believed adding Walker would pair well with the team’s mauling offensive linemen like Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith.“When you combine a back like that, and you have as talented an inside three as you do,” Veach said, “I think it would make sense to want to go out there and impose your will on other teams’ defensive lines.”Time will tell.The Chiefs certainly seem committed to giving Walker a bigger role than he had in Seattle. And the running back, to his credit, has taken well to his new team while arriving with a no-nonsense mentality.Coaches, veterans and rookies have all seemed to appreciate that approach.Along with one of his new biggest fans in Kansas City.“I can’t say enough about him as a teammate,” Kelce said. “We got an absolute superstar on and off the field.”