Three prospects to watch for the Chiefs at 2022 Shrine Bowl

Pierre Strong, Jr., running back

As the Chiefs face the potential loss of both Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon this offseason to free agency, the pressure mounts for Clyde Edwards-Helaire to stand out and stay healthy. While the small sample size thus far makes it unfair to label CEH just yet, the early signs are, so far, warning the Chiefs about one or both of those abilities.

That means it would be silly to enter the 2022 season with only Edwards-Helaire, Derrick Gore, and other fringe players in the backfield.

The Chiefs have learned the hard way that injuries will take a toll and multiple capable backs are needed for this offense to do what it can. That means the Chiefs might be up for adding a low-cost, long-term asset a bit later in the draft. And that could mean good things for Pierre Strong Jr.

if you’ve been watching the Shrine Bowl coverage this week then you’ll recognize Strong’s name as a standout in practice nearly every single day. The small-school prospect faced a tall order against tougher competition, but he’s actually used that to his advantage to standout.

Strong is an early entry into the draft out of South Dakota State, and as a smaller back from a smaller school, he’s going to face considerable questions about his ability to transition to the pros. But those are largely set aside when you watch his well-rounded skill set at work on the field. He’s got vision, burst, toughness, grit, hands, and experience.

Right now, he feels like an ideal addition to play the role Williams or McKinnon has played as a rotational back who can come in and do immediate damage. However, if he lights it up in the actual Shrine game (and continues to show off in the pre-draft process), he might go earlier in the draft than the Chiefs would be comfortable with.