It's a next chapter that simply feels right.
Veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire was released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this week in a move to make room for Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, who is returning to the team following a year-long stint off of injured reserve. After nearly five full seasons with the Chiefs, it was the end of a complicated run with the franchise, but the good news is that Edwards-Helaire has found a place he can truly call home in his next professional stop.
Nick Underhill, a beat writer covering the New Orleans Saints, broke the news that the team was making room on its practice squad to be able to host Edwards-Helaire in his second stop in the NFL. Defensive tackle Kendal Vickers was let go in the process.
Edwards-Helaire was drafted by the Chiefs in 2020 in the first round overall with a vision to add him to the dynamic trio of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Patrick Mahomes. The belief was that such a well-rounded weapon out of the backfield would make the Chiefs' offense unstoppable—pouring gas on the proverbial fire, as they say.
The problem is that the vision of using Edwards-Helaire in such a way never quite materialized. Injuries were partially to blame during his stint, but the fit was also not quite there. Edwards-Helaire was hailed as the best pass-catching back to come out of the draft and yet he was never elite in any one area. He lacked the speed to get outside and the Chiefs never leaned on him in the passing game the way analysts expected.
It also didn't help that the team used a first-round pick on a running back when so many other needs were present. Meanwhile, backs taken later like Jonathan Taylor enjoyed much stronger starts to their careers, which only amplified the criticism around the pick of Edwards-Helaire over the years.
Edwards-Helaire was re-signed this offseason after finishing his rookie deal, but the Chiefs never utilized him within a remade offense. Instead, the team signed Kareem Hunt and landed Samaje Perine in the preseason in order to bolster the position around Isiah Pacheco's injury. Even undrafted free agent Carson Steele made his presence felt while Edwards-Helaire was a healthy scratch on game days.
The upside play for the Saints here is that they get to see a former first-round pick in a welcome environment for Edwards-Helaire since he calls Louisiana home and attended LSU for his college career. The Saints could use some help with Alvin Kamara hurt, so perhaps a trip home was the jolt that Edwards-Helaire has needed all along.
Over his first four seasons, Edwards-Helaire averaged 110 carries for 461 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns per year for the Chiefs.