Kansas City Chiefs: Six roster misses by Brett Veach that are hurting the team

Drafting Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the first round

Let me start by saying this sentiment has absolutely nothing to do with the critical fumbles Clyde Edwards-Helaire has had this season. While they undoubtedly became an issue, it’s not something he’s struggled with in his career and he’s not the only player on the team who seems to have caught the turnover bug.

It also has nothing to do with the fact that in both his rookie and sophomore seasons he’s sustained significant enough injuries to be placed on injured reserve. It’s possible he’s “injury-prone,” but I’m not sure we have enough data to determine that at this juncture.

The primary reason that Clyde Edwards-Helaire makes this list of “roster misses” is because the Chiefs are simply not a team that runs the ball very often.

Andy Reid is well known to prefer passing the ball. He was criticized for it for years, and in the last few years has been vindicated by the advent of advanced statistics. In today’s NFL, especially when you have Patrick Mahomes you throw the football as much as you possibly can.

Considering that massive fact, the move to draft a running back in the first round was puzzling. Despite the obvious talent Edwards-Helaire displayed at Louisiana State University, running backs in the NFL are “a dime a dozen.” It’s just as likely you’ll get starter-level production out of an undrafted player at the position as one you draft in the first round.

Hindsight is 20/20, but there were numerous players taken in the handful of picks following Edwards-Helaire at positions of need for the team who have gone on to be stars. This would all be a moot point if the team was focused on making Edwards-Helaire a major part of their passing attack. Even that doesn’t seem to be a focal point for the team when he’s on the field.

At the end of the day, a team that does not make running the ball a significant part of their strategy drafted one of the lower-value positions in the first round and doesn’t seem committed to utilizing his strengths. Unfortunately, the further we get from the pick the more unsettling it becomes.