The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to be active buyers at the Nov. 4 trade deadline.

The Chiefs are starting to look like the dominant force they have been with quarterback Patrick Mahomes under center, but there are still holes on the roster that should be addressed.

The biggest need is at running back. Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith haven’t made much of an impact seven weeks into the season. Pacheco has looked better in recent weeks, with his latest performance marking his highest workload (15 carries) and yard total (57) with a touchdown this season.

The Chiefs are rumored to be in the running back market, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano doesn’t think the team will go that route. Instead, Graziano believes the team will be active in the linemen market.

“The Chiefs are almost always active at the trade deadline,” Graziano wrote Wednesday. “It seems they add a receiver most years. But assuming everyone stays healthy, they seem to like what they have at that position. I also don't get the sense they're desperate to add a running back, as has been speculated by many on the outside since the season began.

“If the Chiefs add at the deadline, I expect it to be on defense -- maybe a veteran edge rusher -- or possibly the offensive line. Rookie tackle Josh Simmons' situation continues to be murky, and a couple of other linemen left Sunday's game against the Raiders because of injury. No one really noticed, since the Raiders weren't putting up a fight, but if guard Trey Smith's back injury turns into something that causes him to sit out time, that would be a tough hole to fill for an offense that's really starting to click.”

Graziano noted that Kansas City has added to the defensive lineman position in the past and could see the Chiefs moving in that direction.

“They have added defensive linemen in the past (Melvin Ingram in 2021 a prime example). That's the type of move I could see. Since arriving in Kansas City, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has a strong track record of getting the defense into better shape as the season progresses and having it primed to do big things in the postseason. So, he has earned a lot of trust. But adding personnel up front is never a bad idea. How about the rest of that defense?”

The Chiefs will host the Washington Commanders in Week 8.