It seems like the obvious move for Brett Veach to make to bring back Jerick McKinnon in short order after the 2023 NFL Draft.
The Kansas City Chiefs were able to take care of several needs in the 2023 NFL Draft over the weekend, but a lot can be inferred from the picks they didn’t make as well and what it means for the roster. Given the lack of any running backs whatsoever, it seems pretty obvious that the team will make an effort to re-sign Jerick McKinnon.
The Chiefs watched a few running backs hit free agency this spring when the new league year began. McKinnon was on that list along with Melvin Gordon and Ronald Jones. However, only Jones has found a new home in the first couple of months of free agency, a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Given the inactivity around McKinnon in free agency, it makes sense that he would want to return to the Chiefs. Not only are they Super Bowl favorites but the factors are familiar, and it’s for those same reasons that the Chiefs might want to continue the relationship for another season for two.
However, the biggest hurdle for McKinnon’s return to the active roster was a fear that the Chiefs could see something shinier or brighter during draft weekend. Yet somehow, over the course of seven full rounds, the Chiefs declined to make a move at running back, despite a pretty public insistence that they should take on from fans and analysts alike.
The Chiefs still have Isiah Pacheco in the lead back role, and they also just added Deneric Prince as an undrafted free agent. They also have La’Mical Perine and Clyde Edwards-Helaire already on the roster. However none of those persons would move the needle enough to keep McKinnon away.