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KC Chiefs: Five most underrated moves of the offseason

By Matt Conner

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks pressures Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 30, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 30: Jarran Reed #90 of the Seattle Seahawks pressures Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 30, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Jerick McKinnon #28 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Jerick McKinnon #28 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

Jerick McKinnon

It wasn’t so long ago that Jerick McKinnon was the hot item at running back in NFL free agency. The San Francisco 49ers were making some of their earliest moves to adjust to Kyle Shanahan’s preferences on offense, and the Niners decided to offer up four years and a stout $30 million to bring in McKinnon from the Minnesota Vikings.

At the time, McKinnon was a productive, well-rounded back who’d been stuck behind Adrian Peterson, Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook over the course of four NFL seasons. The Niners were excited to add McKinnon’s repertoire to a remade backfield and showcase what he could do in a different offense. Then came a devastating injury that would rob him of so much in San Francisco.

McKinnon went from playing in every game but one from 2015-17 to missing two full seasons in the Bay. McKinnon would never play a single official snap during his first two full years for the 49ers, and by the time he returned, he was still working his way back into game shape on a roster that had already compensated for McKinnon’s loss. After the 2020 season, the Niners decided to let him leave.

Enter the Chiefs, who are on the hook for less than $1 million for a single season for McKinnon. The good news is that the veteran back was healthy all of last season and looked the part once again as a well-rounded back with the versatility to be an effective pass blocker, solid pass catcher and elusive rusher. He’s got the hands, toughness, vision and agility to surprise a lot of Chiefs fans this preseason, and he might end up reminding fans outside of K.C. why the Niners were so excited to get him in the first place back in 2018.

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