KC Chiefs: Most intriguing positional battles for 2022

4. Potential Offensive Changeups at RB?

Ok, I think it is time for a little bit of “hot take time.” This last potential positional battle is one that I feel is under the radar in most Chiefs fans’ minds, but it certainly could become a rather interesting one. That would be with the runningback position and what is going to happen with the allocation of touches.

To set the tone a bit, I think it is interesting to note that the back with the largest percentage of the offensive snaps last season is no longer on the roster in Darrell Williams. Also gone is Jerick McKinnon, who accounted for roughly 15% of the total snaps. Now I know when you started reading this section you immediately discounted me by thinking “well Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still here.” Yes, CEH is still on the roster and of course his injury last season skewed those offensive percentages for Williams and McKinnon. That’s the thing though. This is going to be a make-or-break season for Edwards-Helaire.

Sure, he certainly has the tools to be an incredible back and especially one in this offense. Unfortunately, though, CEH has not really lived up to the hype that saw the Chiefs spend a first-round pick on him. Especially in the passing game, which is what so many scouts raved about with him coming out of LSU. The bottom line, the hype has not materialized at this point in his career. Like I said though, this is a make-or-break season for him. The Chiefs are certainly going to give him every opportunity to make it, and probably a rather long lease to break it.

Though, that unknown with Edwards-Helaire certainly makes the “break it” a bit more likely than it should be. Couple that with replacing huge running game contributors from last season, and that leads to the Chiefs signing Ronald Jones in free agency, drafting Isiah Pacheco, and signing Jerrion Ealy as an undrafted free agent. There is also Derrick Gore who is returning to the fold with that “intriguing prospect” label still somewhat tied to him.

Given their track record and Reid’s mindset with the RB position, at least four of these guys are going to end up with a decent role and at least some touches out of the backfield per game. Heck, I would not even be shocked to see Edwards-Helaire and Jones almost splitting the touches. Although, neither of these guys has really been proven assets when it comes to the passing game. That is definitely an area that Reid likes to utilize with his running backs.

There is just so much unknown with this group going into this season, that it is definitely going to be intriguing to watch. How big of a lease is Edwards-Helaire going to have if it is not working? Are they going to “ride the hot hand” week-to-week? Who will carve out the third-down back role, or be used somewhat like McKinnon was in the passing game? One thing is for sure, all of these questions will be answered as we progress towards week 1.

With that, the new roster additions bring some compelling assets to the table. Isiah Pacheco has blazing, 4.3 forty speed (which was tied for the best at the NFL combine) that could be something this offense is missing out of the backfield. Jerrion Ealy, while undrafted, was a 5-star recruit coming out of high school and was legit dubbed the “Next Deion Sanders.” While his college career did not necessarily pan out as you would think, that does not mean he is a washed player.

Ealy’s college highlights are filled with just absolutely beautiful, powerful runs. Even better, he was not all that bad at returning kicks. I mean:

Certainly, it seems like he has the potential to work out a nice little role as a special teamer no? Either way, it is going to be exciting to watch how (if at all) these new guys fit into the Chiefs system and whether or not they carve out a role for this next season. Similar to the wide receiver group, I think the Chiefs will have a new look with the running back and yet even more variety of talent who could potentially turn into key contributors for the 2022 season.

This upcoming season is certainly going to be one of the more exciting ones for The Kingdom. That is mostly due to the fact that there is just so much unknown with the Chiefs’ offensive identity and revamp of the secondary. It seems gone are the Chiefs of old and it seems as if the squad has undergone a “youthful revolt” injecting an excess of young talent into a roster that has had unbelievable success over the past five years with almost the same core of players. Regardless, get your popcorn ready folks, because watching how this roster rejuvenation works and how these positional battles play out, will be worth the price of admission.