Should the Kansas City Chiefs be concerned about their running back depth?

The Kansas City Chiefs running back room is interesting. Which players will make the team and which players are in danger of being cut?

Since the preseason has commenced for the Kansas City Chiefs, a legitimate argument can be made that both the single biggest winner and loser are running backs. Almost every Chiefs fan agrees that no player has improved his chances of making the final roster over the past three weeks than seventh-round rookie Isiah Pacheco. On the contrary, I don’t believe there’s a single player whose stock has fallen more in the same time frame than Ronald Jones.

With the changes in the depth chart, is there a cause for concern when it comes to the running back room, or are the Chiefs in a comfortable spot at the position?

Isiah Pacheco

Admittedly, I was not a huge fan of Pacheco and prematurely wrote him off as a run-of-the-mill seventh-round pick who would very likely be waived at the end of training camp. I’m glad to admit that I was wrong. Maybe he doesn’t develop into the second coming of Kareem Hunt, but it is fair to say that the Chiefs are not having any second thoughts about taking him in the seventh round in this past April’s draft.

Pacheco likely serve as a depth back and has the chance to see a lot of snaps on third down due to the pleasant surprise of his blocking ability, which gives him the upper hand over Ronald Jones. He also has the advantage of being a potential returner on special teams.

Overall, Pacheco will make this team but it’s unknown whether he will actually be a productive player for the Chiefs this season or just your average seventh-round rookie. It’s always dangerous to rely on the 251st overall pick in the NFL Draft as a rookie in order to have a productive season so the Chiefs shouldn’t put all their eggs in the Isiah Pacheco basket when it comes to backing up Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

Ronald Jones

I’ve said it before, but I’m a firm believer that no player on Kansas City this training camp has hurt his chances of making the team more than Ronald Jones. He has not had an impressive camp and also had a poor outing against the Bears in the preseason opener. The biggest argument he had to make the team was his ability as a power runner but his non-existent pass-blocking (which is generous) may be his undoing. He is not just a below-average blocker he’s a horrible pass protector. From 2018 through 2021, his Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grades ($) have been 70.8, 38.4, 46.8, and 12.4 (60.0 is considered “average”), respectively, and his grade on Saturday versus Chicago (on just two such plays, to be fair) was just 4.5. Yes, 4.5 out of 100. This play here explains why his grade was so low for those two snaps:

Unfortunately, it seems that Jones’ inability to block, and thus be unplayable on third downs, will be his downfall with Kansas City and will be one of the multiple reasons why he will likely be cut by the end of camp, barring an injury.

Jerick McKinnon

Prior to Jerick McKinnon’s re-signing in June, many wondered why he had not been brought back earlier because of his pass-blocking ability. At that point, the Chiefs had no established pass protectors at running back since CEH is not a great blocker, Pacheco was an unknown, and we already discussed Ronald Jones’ pass-blocking skills, so bringing McKinnon back made a lot of sense (and it still does). He will likely retain the role he had for much of 2021 and be the tertiary option at back for the Chiefs behind CEH and Pacheco. He could end up surpassing the latter and be the primary backup behind CEH.

McKinnon is not a feature back but if he can play at a level even close to where he performed at in the 2021-22 playoffs, then the Chiefs have a shot at a complete running back room that is both stable and a positive in a season where they are going to see a lot of change on both their team and especially on offense.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Depending on who you talk to, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is either the most overrated or over-hated player on the Chiefs. I’m somewhere in the middle, I’m not quite a CEH apologist but I’m also not quite a hater. I was (and still am) a firm believer that running backs should never be taken in the first round but that doesn’t mean that he deserves the hate that he’s gotten. 2022 was his first real offseason in the NFL since 2020 was obviously COVID-affected and he had gall bladder surgery in the 2021 offseason.

Some fans and analysts have projected a breakout season for CEH and the Chiefs could certainly use it. He is a very talented player and was a first-round pick for a reason, despite the lackluster value. He flashed moments of brilliance at LSU, in both the passing and rushing game, so it’s not hard to believe that he develops into a complete player this season. The Chiefs don’t generally lean on a single back so CEH will not be a traditional workhorse but he has the best chance to be the strongest asset in the backfield of an offense that will be elite.

Other Running Backs

Other notable running backs currently on the Kansas City Chiefs roster include Derrick Gore, Tayon Fleet-Davis, Jerrion Ealy, and fullback Michael Burton. Gore showed flashes of promise last season but had a very poor performance against Chicago after netting -2 yards on two attempts, plus a lost fumble. In a room that’s already crowded, it will be very difficult for him to make the team, unless the Chiefs decide to carry five total running backs (including a fullback).

Fleet-Davis and Ealy are interesting prospects but neither is expected to make the team and one or both could be re-signed to the practice squad. Jerrion Ealy has been a running back/receiver hybrid in camp and saw all 12 of his offensive snaps at wide receiver against the Bears so that should indicate how the Chiefs view him.  Michael Burton will make the team as the Chiefs always carry a fullback so there’s not a ton to say about him.

Conclusion

I believe that the Chiefs should feel confident in their running back depth chart, but I also wouldn’t say that their depth is incredible either. Edwards-Helaire should be a solid starting back for them. Pacheco could be the surprise rookie of the NFL. Jerick McKinnon is a great secondary option, and Michael Burton is a solid fullback. Meanwhile, Derrick Gore, Ronald Jones, Jerrion Ealy, and Tayon Fleet-Davis will all be great options for the practice squad.

Three reliable options are generally enough but running backs get hurt a lot, so if the overall depth is tested, then it may get a little blurry for the Chiefs. Running back depth is almost never a deciding factor in whether a team is Super Bowl bound or not, so I don’t think that Kansas City should be concerned about their overall group at the position.