The Kansas City Chiefs have had their fair share of great running backs through the team’s history. Is Charcandrick West the next great Chiefs RB?
A quick glance at the history of the Chiefs shows an up-and-down mountain range of success. The team has seen the highest of highs as Super Bowl champions and lowest of lows which gave them the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. But one thing has seemed to remain constant throughout the years: the Chiefs have always had a solid running game.
A few weeks ago, our own Bill Robbins compiled a list of the top 10 Chiefs running backs of all-time. The list gives a good summary of how many great players have graced the Kansas City backfield, especially in the last 25 years. Names like Christian Okoye, Marcus Allen, Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes have done great things while wearing red and gold.
The player at the No. 2 spot on that list is Jamaal Charles, who is of course currently the top back on the KC depth chart. There is no doubt that Charles has been the brightest spot of the Chiefs’ last five years. His combination of speed and elusiveness has helped him become a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the best running backs in the league.
But among all of the good that Charles has done in his NFL career, there is one factor that can’t be overlooked: his proneness to injuries. Over his eight years with the Chiefs, Charles has been sidelined with head injuries, ankle/knee sprains and, of highest concern, two torn ACL’s. The first occurred in 2011 and caused him to miss 14 games. The second happened last season, from which he missed 11 regular-season games and both playoff games. Another knee injury would be devastating to both Charles and the Chiefs.
As hard of a pill it may be to swallow for Chiefs fans, this last offseason points to the Chiefs preparing for life without the former Texas Longhorn.
Rumors were abound before this year’s draft about a possible Charles trade in order to move up in the draft order. Also, the two replacements for Charles after his injury last season, Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware, were both signed to contract extensions shortly after the season ended.
If we are truly closing in on the end of Jamaal Charles’ time with the Chiefs, can either West or Ware step up and be that next great KC running back?
Next: Which is the better pick?