Winners and Losers: The running backs
It might sound weird to throw an entire part of the Chiefs depth chart on here and declare them all both winners and losers, but this one is a complicated mess.
First, the winners. The fact that the Chiefs failed to throw any sort of meaningful draft pick at a running back means that the team is yet another year removed from the lessons learned of taking a first-round RB. This year, the Chiefs focused on the trenches and key needs and came away with a stronger skeletal structure rather than risking anything in the name of luxury.
Another winner here is Isiah Pacheco, who will have zero competition at this stage for any lead back role. He should thrive knowing he’s going to handle so much responsibility as he comes into another year with that much more experience with what Mahomes and Reid will ask of him.
As for the others, we’ve already penned an entire column about Jerick McKinnon was a big winner this weekend with the Chiefs leaving an obvious spot for him.
But this room is also squarely in the “losers” category as well this weekend. Pacheco is the only real spark with any appreciable ceiling on the roster at this point. McKinnon is a serviceable backup who is favored by those in house (Mahomes and coaches) but even last year, he lacked the juice when running the ball at key times. His hands and pass protection will earn him another year with the team, but this was an upgradeable position and you’d have to look at undrafted free agents to find any investment from draft weekend.
Finally, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the biggest loser here. He remains on the roster of a team that treated him as a healthy scratch in the postseason and ignored any drama he might have wanted to create by missing the team’s victory parade. A change of scenery for all parties involved feels like what’s needed, but draft weekend didn’t bring the after all.