The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly unlikely to offer Isiah Pacheco a long-term contract this offseason, potentially prompting the running back to consider holding out. Despite being eligible for an extension and having performed beyond his modest contract as one of the league's lowest-paid players, Pacheco, who was picked in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, is not expected to be offered a deal by the Chiefs, according to Sportskeeda.

The Chiefs' financial constraints this offseason, with limited cap space and Travis Kelce's large salary cap hit, alongside their decision to franchise-tag offensive lineman Trey Smith, may be contributing factors. These commitments will cost the Chiefs approximately $44 million against the cap, leaving them in deficit as they head into free agency and potentially losing players like Nick Bolton and Justin Reid.

The Chiefs, who were dominated in the Super Bowl by the Philadelphia Eagles, recognise the need to enhance their roster, which could explain their reluctance to extend Pacheco's contract. Despite his impressive performance for the Chiefs, Pacheco has struggled with injuries over the past two years, missing more than half of the 2024 season.

Running backs are universally regarded as the most interchangeable position in the NFL, a notion ironically embodied by Pacheco, who was available in the seventh-round of the draft. Teams often opt not to extend running backs to long-term contracts, given the injury-prone nature of the position.

Pacheco, in the last year of his contract, is unlikely to attract much trade interest, but he could pressure Kansas City into an extension or trade if he chooses to hold out. Every year, players hold out - that is, they decide not to attend training camp - in an attempt to force the team's hand.