Meet the KC Chiefs first signings to futures contracts for 2022
By Matt Conner
Brenden Knox, RB
Played college ball at: Marshall
Played professionally with: Dallas Cowboys
Brenden Knox earned a lot of hardware as a running back at Marshall as the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2019 and a two-time All-CUSA team member in 2019 and 2020. Knox owns a career average of 5.2 yards/carry from three years of production at Marshall in which he put up 2,852 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground.
The Dallas Cowboys offered him a chance to make the roster this summer as a rookie free agent but he was unable to make the final cut. What’s interesting is that the Chiefs checked in on Knox a couple times this year with free agent tryouts only to leave him available for any team to sign. Now he gets his chance for a longer look from the coaching staff and front office with a futures deal.
As for what he brings, Knox is more of a short-yardage runner who has plenty of experience moving through traffic as a strong, stout back. The problem here is a perceived lack of versatility since he lacks the speed to go outside and there’s no proven hands at work here either. Perhaps the Chiefs are imagining him as a potential replacement for Michael Burton at fullback since he’s slated to be a free agent. At this point, it’s hard to say.