Current rumors about the 2017 NFL Draft have teams well ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs enamored with the best running backs available.
The Kansas City Chiefs are often linked to the top running backs available in the upcoming NFL Draft in various mock efforts, given the team’s need at the position. The Chiefs have already waved goodbye to franchise rushing leader Jamaal Charles this offseason, and the need for an impact player was already there before Charles was shown the door.
The Chiefs did sign C.J. Spiller, but it was a low-risk value signing intended to see what the versatile veteran has left in the tank, rather than any real expected answer at the position. That’s why the Chiefs are often connected with some of the top running backs available in mock drafts. Unfortunately if some current draft rumors are true, there might be more of a run on those backs than everyone might realize, which could leave the Chiefs on the outside looking in.
Rich Cimini, beat writer for the New York Jets for ESPN, recently wrote, “General manager Mike Maccagnan is married to his best-player-available philosophy, which puts LSU running back Leonard Fournette into play at No. 6.” If the running backs in the draft begin to get taken that far up, then it leaves things less and less likely for the Chiefs to have a good value among their choices—at running back at least. Fournette is an incredible running back prospect who will thrive in the NFL, and the Chiefs were never expected to pick high enough to grab him. That said, if Fournette goes so early, then other teams will move up their board sooner than expected.
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ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan covers the other team in the Big Apple, the New York Giants, and says the Giants are also high on another running back: Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. The Giants pick at No. 22 overall in the first round, five spots ahead of the Chiefs, which could mean another great option of the board in the first.
If McCaffrey and Fournette are already spoken for by teams well before the Chiefs select, it’s likely that even the next tier of running backs, such as Florida State’s Dalvin Cook or Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon, could also be spoken for. The Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions all have significant need at running back and they all select before the Chiefs in the first round.
Of course, if running backs are being taken, then that means players at other positions will be there for the Chiefs at No. 27, but fans hoping for the next great impact running back in K.C. might be forced to wait. If the players aren’t there, John Dorsey won’t force it, which means Spencer Ware could conceivably carry the load for another year.