On Day 2 of the NFL's free agency chaos, the Detroit Lions did their best to find a replacement for former fan favorite David Montgomery.
After trading him to the Houston Texans in a deal that sent some emotional shockwaves throughout the fan base, and Detroit doing what they knew they had to do, it was time to move forward. And, that's exactly what they did when they agreed to sign 2-time Super Bowl champion and former Kansas City Chiefs running back, Isiah Pacheco.
There are multiple ripple effects from a signing like this one, of course, whether we're talking about Sione Vaki or just how much of a workload Pacheco might get. However, before we get to any of that, I had the chance to speak to a longtime Chiefs expert and voice, Matt Conner, of Arrowhead Addict.
While Conner did offer some positive sentiments on Pacheco, he didn't mince words in the end:
"Pacheco is a model citizen, hard worker, well-loved teammate. And there's a positive way to spin Pacheco's tenure with the Chiefs that would point to the fact that a guy taken at No. 250 overall in a draft class led the team in rushing yards in his first two seasons, that he won multiple championships, that he's a favorite of the coaches."
Isiah Pacheco has 'Detroit Lion' written all over him, but comes with a warning
Sure, Pacheco was a seventh-round draft pick who wasn't given a second thought, initially, and worked his way into being an integral part of that Chiefs offense.
Yet, simply being a "model citizen" and "hard worker" will only get you so far after father time catches up. Chiefs fans and experts, alike, knew Pacheco was not in the team's plans for 2026, and for good reason.
Conner went on:
"But the truth is that the Chiefs paid through the nose to overhaul their backfield because Pacheco could not get the job done anymore. Injuries to his knee, his calf, his ankle—they all took a toll over the last two years and reduced his effectiveness. His lack of vision was always the concern, but when the burst also left, it hobbled the Chiefs. K.C. faced lighter boxes than nearly any other franchise and yet the run game was anemic."
He's not wrong. Pacheco has struggled to stay healthy over the last two seasons, missing a total of 14 games.
In his first two seasons with the Chiefs, Pacheco looked the part, averaging at least 4.6 yards per carry and rushing for over 1,700 yards with 12 touchdowns. But, once the 2024 season began, his production saw a major decline.
READ MORE: Lions Free-Agency Tracker 2026: Signings, departures, cap space analysis, and more
Pacheco suffered a fractured fibula in 2024 and a nagging MCL sprain limited him in 2025. These aren't the types of injuries you want to see in anyone, let alone a running back.
Just turning 27 years old, Pacheco is already near that frightening age-28 dropoff that we see from so many running backs, too. Although his name rings loud and he brings a Super Bowl pedigree with him, Pacheco truly may not be the type of guy Detroit can count on.
Here's to hoping 2026 will be different, and that he can turn it around, while Lions fans stay cautiously optimistic.