​Isaiah Pacheco, the Kansas City Chiefs’ dynamic running back, has compiled an impressive stat line across 51 career games: 2,537 rushing yards, 554 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns. That production showcases his ability to function as both a ground-and-pound back and a capable option in the passing game, especially within the Chiefs’ high-powered offense. The Detroit Lions, in their efforts to replace David Montgomery’s production, reportedly considered adding Pacheco via free agency. However, football analyst Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis cautions that pursuing Pacheco could be a misguided plan for Detroit, given the context of his performance metrics and the surrounding situation.
Sharp argues that, despite playing in a system that could have fostered significant production, Pacheco has largely fallen short of starting-caliber marks in many essential rushing metrics. The Lions do possess a favorable offensive environment, yet replicating or matching the Chiefs’ efficiency and volume for Pacheco next season would be a tall order. Detroit would face a tricky decision: hope Pacheco rebounds and performs at a high level, put a substantial portion of the workload on Jahmyr Gibbs, or pursue another back to fill the role.
On the surface, Montgomery’s trade made sense because his rushing attempts declined year over year, yet he still logged 158 carries in the prior season, indicating a substantial workload to replace. Detroit’s plan appears to be to deploy Gibbs as a bell cow, absorbing a large portion of the carries and, importantly, his burgeoning role in the passing game as well. Gibbs has already ranked among the NFL’s top ten in rushing attempts and is within 80 carries of the league lead. This does not account for his growing involvement in the passing game, which would further reduce the available rushing opportunities for others. If the Lions intend to lean heavily on Gibbs, there could still be roughly 100 carries up for grabs that would otherwise go to a running back.
Pacheco could be the recipient of a portion of those carries, yet his health and efficiency would be critical factors. If he cannot stay healthy or maintain efficiency, Detroit could face a significant setback at the position. Presently, Sione Vaki sits as the Lions’ third-string running back, entering his third NFL season with only seven rushing attempts for 18 yards. Vaki has versatility that came from a collegiate background on defense, and last year he did deal with injury concerns, which could complicate his ability to step into a larger role.
Head coach Dan Campbell has voiced optimism about the team’s players continuing to progress, including Pacheco. Yet, optimism alone does not guarantee success; a healthy, efficient version of Pacheco is necessary for the Lions to swing the balance in their favor. Pacheco’s career arc demonstrates he can shoulder a heavier workload when needed. He carried 170 rushing attempts as a rookie and increased to 205 attempts in his sophomore season, indicating his capacity to handle a substantial workload when the opportunity is there.
The 2024 season, however, presented a major setback for Pacheco: a broken leg that limited him to just six games and 83 carries. The injury clearly impacted his performance in 2025, with a reduction to 118 carries across 13 games and a notable drop in effectiveness. If Detroit seeks to rely on Pacheco to fill a sizable portion of Montgomery’s former workload, they will require a markedly healthier and more efficient version of him compared with the 2024-2025 stretch.
Looking ahead, the Lions will likely need Pacheco to approach, maintain, or exceed a similar carries total to what he produced in 2025, all while elevating efficiency to prevent a positional drop-off. In other words, this upcoming season could be a pivotal one for Pacheco personally and for Detroit’s offense as a whole. If Pacheco can stay healthy and return to or surpass his earlier efficiency, he could contribute meaningfully to a Lions team that is positioning itself to be more explosive and versatile offensively. On the other hand, if health issues persist or efficiency wanes, Detroit will face a difficult path at the running back position, potentially needing additional help behind Gibbs.
In sum, the debate about adding Pacheco hinges on his health trajectory and ability to reclaim the efficiency that made him a valuable asset in Kansas City. The Lions must balance the desire to upgrade the running back room with the likelihood that Pacheco, if healthy and productive, could help them address a critical need; otherwise, they may be forced to diversify the workload among Gibbs and alternative backs to sustain a productive rushing attack. This remains a high-stakes decision for Detroit, underscoring just how consequential the next season could be for both Pacheco and the Lions.