2017 NFL Draft: Offensive crushes for the Kansas City Chiefs
Alvin Kamara – Running Back – Tennessee
If the Chiefs want a significant boost to their offense in 2017, I believe it needs to come from the running back position. With Alex Smith locked in as the quarterback for another season, I don’t see the passing game being drastically different for better or for worse. However, the Chiefs run game slipped in 2016 and they could use a boost. The easiest way to get a boost would be to add a dynamic playmaker to share time with current starter Spencer Ware. Ware is a working man’s back. He isn’t flashy, but just a solid around back. What the Chiefs need is a more explosive player to alternate with him.
That is where Alvin Kamara comes in.
I think Kamara is the most underrated running back in this draft. When you factor in that he is already seen as a late first or early second round pick that shows you just how highly I think of him. If the Chiefs don’t select a quarterback in the first round, I want them to take Kamara. If we are simply talking about upgrading the current roster, I believe he does that more than even a starting inside linebacker or cornerback does. While I wouldn’t be upset if the Chiefs drafted those other two positions, the fact is that the defense was good last year with the players they already have at those positions. The run game on the other hand was disappointing.
So why do I believe Kamara is the player to fix things? I believe he has already proven what kind of explosive playmaker he is, but people just haven’t been paying attention. Tennessee used two running backs last season. One was Kamara and the other was the massive 6-foot-4 and 240 pound Jalen Hurd. While the larger Hurd may have inexplicably received more of the carries, it was Kamara that was infinitely more productive. Go ask any Tennessee fan you know and I bet they’ll tell you they wish Kamara was used a lot more. Just how productive was Kamara in college? He averaged a touchdown every 12.3 touches on offense. Think about that….
For comparison, Dalvin Cook and Leonard Fournette both averaged a touchdown about every 16 touches and Christian McCaffrey only averaged a touchdown every 23.6 touches. Still not convinced? If we go back to the good folks at Pro Football Focus again they have an advanced stat for running backs that they call their “Elusive Rating”. Here is how their 2017 draft guide describes this rating:
"As dependent on their blocking as they are, what are running backs actually creating on their own? The PFF Elusive Rating sifts out their work beyond the help they get. Using the number of missed tackles runners force on all touches (rushing and receiving) and our Yards After Contact tallies, the Elusive Rating formula spits out a score that helps rank the league’s best at making things happen when it’s completely up to them."
So what does their elusive rating say about Alvin Kamara? That he was tied with Dalvin Cook for second best in all of college football. Kamara creates yards, makes plays, and scores touchdowns. That’s the kind of player that Kansas City needs to give their offense a boost. Plus, he’s a tremendous receiving threat in the passing game. He is right up there with Christian McCaffrey in terms of pass catching running backs. So not only is he an explosive playmaker, but he’s tailor-made for Andy Reid’s offense. PLUS, the fact that he was under used in college means there is a lot of tread left on his tires compared to other top running back prospects. That’s why I have a huge draft crush on him and would love to see him wind up a Kansas City Chief.
Next up let’s look at the tight end position.