Free agent pass-catching running back options for the KC Chiefs
By Matt Conner
On Monday, NFL reporter Ian Rapoport noted that the K.C. Chiefs had indicated an interest in free agent Gio Bernard after the veteran running back had been released from the Cincinnati Bengals a few days earlier. Bernard ended up signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers instead, but the report of the Chiefs’ involvement brought some questions to the surface and indicated that the team might be interested in pursuing other options.
As for the questions, the Chiefs appear set at the top of the depth chart when it comes to the 1-2 tandem of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Darrel Williams. The former was the first-round pick for the Chiefs just last season and should find himself featured much more in the team’s offense as the obvious lead back in season two.
As for the latter, Williams became a surprising go-to back in the postseason even with Le’Veon Bell on the roster and the team rewarded him with a one-year deal worth more than $2 million earlier this spring. Beyond that, the Chiefs have the likes of former sixth round pick Darwin Thompson and journeyman Elijah McGuire.
It’s likely that the Chiefs try to add someone else, especially someone with return experience and special teams expertise., but any sort of move would have likely come on Day 3 of the draft if there was a back the team really liked. Then again, there’s always the mid-summer signing to bolster the backfield.
That’s why the pursuit of Bernard, failed or not, was a bit of a surprise for Chiefs fans. This is a team that just watched Le’Veon Bell walk into free agency without a single notion that they wanted him back. The Chiefs also released postseason hero Damien Williams as he planned to return from opting out of the 2020 season. Was a running back really in view?
At this point, we don’t know if there was just something special about Bernard that specifically drew the Chiefs’ interest or if they are wanting to add a pass-catching back to the backfield. If it’s the former, then the Bucs won and that’s that. If not, however, there are a few other options on the open market who could serve the Chiefs well in that endeavor. Let’s take a closer look.