Would the Chiefs really draft a first round running back?

The latest mock draft from Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has the Kansas City Chiefs taking a running back in the first round.

At this point, the running back position is in flux for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ever since the team released Kareem Hunt for lying to them on multiple occasions about his involvement in an offseason assault in early December, the running game is clearly not as effective overall. The box score might lie and say there’s still plenty of production, but anyone watching can see that no current back quite has the same ability to shed tackles, secure the ball, run with power and vision, and serve as a reliable pass catcher. While some facets of Hunt’s game can be found in his replacements, the single package All-Pro simply no longer exists on this roster.

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However, that doesn’t mean the cupboard is completely bare. Spencer Ware was a solid 1A back for the Chiefs when healthy and Damien Williams just earned a nice two-year extension from the front office. Darrel Williams shows promise as the Chiefs have hidden him among their inactives all season, and Charcandrick West remains on the roster as a swiss army knife of sorts.

When it comes to this offseason, the Chiefs are likely going to make some move at running back to at least bolster the position. Ware and West are both slated for free agency once again, so it’s impossible to tell who will return and who will be retained. Adding a young, dynamic playmaker does make sense, however.

But what about the very first round of the upcoming NFL Draft? Kareem Hunt himself was a third-round pick, and the Chiefs have serious needs on the defensive side that should eat up the first few draft picks in the quiver—specifically for a cornerback, safety, linebacker and even a pass rusher given the lack of long-term potential on the roster. However, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has a different idea.

In Miller’s latest mock draft, he has the Chiefs selecting Joshua Jacobs, running back from Alabama, at the bottom of the very first round. Miller is very aware of the Chiefs defensive needs, but unfortunately, their position at the bottom of the round precludes them from drafting an impact player at any of the aforementioned positions. He writes:

"Andy Reid‘s offense has always leaned on backs for not just rushing yards but also help in the passing game. That’s where a talent like Josh Jacobs comes in. Jacobs, a junior, is a powerful back with excellent hands out of the backfield. He’s a too-good-to-be-true fit in Kansas City and a steal at the end of Round 1 should be declare."

This installs a set of competing ideals:

It’s silly to imagine the Chiefs taking on a first round running back, both for positional value and draft value, and the ridiculousness is magnified by other needs on the roster.
It’s silly to imagine the Chiefs settling for Day 2 talent when a potential game-changer is left on the board.

Let’s explore the latter one for a second. If Jacobs is an A-plus talent, the sort of player Kareem Hunt was turning out to be, then there’s something to be said for what he would add. The Chiefs offense moved through the NFL’s universe like Thanos with Hunt in place and a healthy Sammy Watkins. With Mahomes they will always be elite but historic is possible with this core in place—if you have a Pro Bowl running back.

So is it worth it if a game-changer is on board? A sexier offense is always going to sound good and gaining impact talent where you can take it makes sense—as most GMs say. “We stick to our board.”

But for those of us who have witnessed the problems in the secondary all season or the poor tackling inside, would you not love to see the Chiefs draft a linebacker or cornerback with a “Round 2” grade at the bottom of the first round? Would that not make a much bigger difference overall on the roster than upgrading the offense that already keeps you in every game?

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These are competing ideals and there is considerable merit to both sides. It will be interesting to see what the Chiefs do this offseason to improve their team, especially when it comes to the long-term process of rebuilding from the loss of Kareem Hunt.

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