Running back free agent J.K. Dobbins visiting Kansas City Chiefs with new deal coming 'very soon'

Following his rookie stint with the Baltimore Ravens, running back J.K. Dobbins is on the hunt for a new team in 2024. The former Ohio State star has already visited his former offensive coordinator Greg Roman and the L.A. Chargers amid free agency this month, now, on Tuesday, he’s visiting the Kansas City Chiefs. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Dobbins’ agency shared that he is on a free agency visit with the Super Bowl LVIII champions and that they expect he’ll have a new home “very soon.”

The Chiefs’ leading running back in their Super Bowl campaign was Isiah Pacheco, who rushed for 935 yards on 205 carries in the regular season. He went on to add 313 yards on 81 carries in four postseason games. Overall, he had 10 rushing touchdowns and two more receiving touchdowns during the 2023 season. Meanwhile, this offseason, Kansas City declined another year on backup RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s contract.

Despite coming off of the draft board in the second round of the 2020 Draft, J.K. Dobbins has had a tough run so far in the NFL. Through his first four seasons, he’s racked up 234 carries, 1,347 yards and 12 touchdown runs in 24 regular season games.

Dobbins’ most productive season came as a rookie in 2020. He had 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Dobbins suffered multiple ligament tears in his knee in 2021 that caused him to miss the entirety of his second season. Then, this year, he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.

Dobbins’ rookie contract with the Baltimore Ravens expired on March 13 at the start of the new league year. He played out his four-year deal for $5.72 million. Now, he’s nearing a deal for his second NFL home for his fifth season in the league.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially run out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams will have a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams can enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marks the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits. Following the restricted free agent deadline follows the 2024 NFL Draft, which runs from April 25-27.