Veteran running backs who should interest KC Chiefs in free agency

While the Chiefs made a commitment to Damien Williams and have a potential star in Darwin Thompson, expect the Chiefs to sign a vet. Here is why.

Kansas City has an offense that the young people would call “woke.” Andy Reid decides to throw the ball as much as anyone, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love having talented running backs on the roster. Despite Damien Williams‘s continued playoff heroics, he has not proven himself to be completely reliable in the regular season (as shown by his 2.1 yards/carry average for the first 8 weeks of the 2019 campaign).

Even with talent at the running back position, Brett Veach and Reid decided to add LeSean McCoy before the season began. Furthermore, when Le’Veon Bell voiced his concern with the Jets, the Chiefs were a team that was rumored to be interested in his services. Reid certainly likes the idea of a talented group of running backs.

Currently, the Chiefs have three running backs with any playing experience under contract. Those players are Damien Williams, Darrel Williams, and Darwin Thompson. While analysts debate the importance of the running back position, it is clear that Andy Reid has built a tandem of overlooked gems. Damien has emerged as a speedy running back with good pass-catching ability and, on the flipside, Darrel is a big and powerful runner. Thompson shows flashes of ability in both areas but has seen very limited action.

Teams that have the better quarterback than their opponent typically win games. It is never a wise decision to put all of your hopes and dreams into a running back in the modern NFL. That being said, having talented running back options to rotate in and out of the game can bolster production and create a new level of danger for opposing defenses. The Chiefs have not shied away from creating an embarrassment of riches at receiver for Patrick Mahomes, but don’t believe for a moment that Andy Reid and Brett Veach are not looking for more weapons coming out of the backfield.

The market for running backs is not huge. Bill O’Brien and Jerry Jones are the only NFL executives willing to pay an absurd amount for running backs. Everyone else is trying to get out of their positional contracts. This is just another reason that Kansas City may be interested in veteran running backs. There are a ton of players available at the position that the team can afford and can immediately contribute. The Chiefs will have plenty of options.

Keep a look out for these five running backs.