KC Chiefs: Only a late round running back makes sense in 2021 NFL Draft

Last year, the K.C. Chiefs made a bit of a surprise move in the first round with the selection of running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of LSU. Edwards-Helaire as the first overall halfback taken in the draft, and the move gave the Chiefs a lead back for the next half decade to create yet another outlet in an already dynamic offense.

Given the high level of investment in the position just a year ago, the Chiefs are very unlikely to make such a splash again—or something even close to it. In our positional overview looking at each roster spot before the draft, what is clear is that the Chiefs seem interested in doing something at running back this offseason. However, if it was anything more than a late round flyer in the 2021 NFL Draft, it would be a bigger surprise than last year’s pick of Edwards-Helaire.

Even a late round pick might be a surprise to Chiefs fans at this point knowing that the team already has plenty of talent at the position. Edwards-Helaire should blossom given a year to learn the ropes at the pro level, and the team brought back Darrel Williams for another year on a deal worth just over $2 million. The Chiefs also have Darwin Thompson and Elijah McGuire as backs trying to compete for special teams roles.

Only a late round flyer at running back makes sense for the Chiefs.

Beyond that, the team also watched Le’Veon Bell leave as a free agent and also released former postseason hero Damien Williams as he tried to return after opting out for the 2020 season. That’s a lot of talent to kick to the curb, which is why it was a bit surprising to see the Chiefs show any interest at all in a free agent back like Gio Bernard of the Cincinnati Bengals (who ended up signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Very little is known of the Chiefs pre-draft interests given the cloud creating by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Buffalo running back Jaret Patterson has been linked to the team, which makes it clear that the team is at least kicking the tires on late-round running back options.

If the Chiefs make any moves in the draft at running back, it’s going to be for a prospect like Patterson, who should be taken down the board in Day 3. It’s also possible the Chiefs keep a list of guys who go undrafted for the sake of bringing in competition without using an actual selection. Anything more than that is going to be a serious shock for a team who has already surprised at the level of investment (and then the talent cast aside) at the position.