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2016 NFL Draft: Should Chiefs Consider Drafting Derrick Henry

By Leigh Oleszczak

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry (2) runs the ball for a touchdown during the third quarter against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The 2016 NFL Draft is just a few months away, and the Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of decisions as to what position to target in the early rounds. Could running back be one of them?

Chiefs Kingdom was in full panic mode this past season when Jamaal Charles was deemed out for the season after only five games. Charles was the heart and soul of the KC Chiefs‘ offense, and without him, this team would be doomed.

After seeing that the Chiefs could succeed without Charles, should John Dorsey take a harder look at some of the running backs in this year’s draft? One of the best entering the draft this year is Alabama running back Derrick Henry.

Henry, a junior at Alabama this past season, ran his way into the record books for the Crimson Tide. He amassed 2,219 rushing yards (holy crap!) and 28 touchdowns. He carried the ball a total of 395 times for the Tide, who won the College Football Playoffs this year.

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While Alabama has a reputation for always sending the best offensive lines out on the field, Henry is still a legitimate contender to dominate the NFL the next few years. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2015, and is slated to be an early round pick, according to CBS Sports.

Chiefs fans might scoff at the thought of drafting a running back in the first round, but think about it. It might make sense this year.

  1. Jamaal Charles will be 30 years old by the end of the 2016 season and has had two ACL injuries in the past five years.
  2. While Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware stepped in nicely in Charles’ absence, neither one is likely going to be a permanent starter moving forward.
  3. Knile Davis is probably on his way out after failing to make an impact, which means the Chiefs will be looking for a solid backup behind Charles this season.

If the Chiefs do decide to draft Henry, he could back up Charles in 2016 and then take over once Charles’ contract expires after this season. He wouldn’t be too beat up after only one year, and could be a solid starting running back down the stretch.

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The concerns with Henry, at least in my opinion, are that he had a HUGE workload in college. He carried the ball nearly 400 times and had over 2,200 rushing yards. That’s INSANE!

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The Chiefs wouldn’t need Henry to run the ball that much, but could the kid already be worn down after being such a workhouse for Alabama? Could be an area of concern for sure.

Another concerning area is that Alabama running backs don’t always pan out in the pros. They typically benefit from a beastly offensive line, who can create great openings for them to run through. When you look at the recent batch of Alabama backs to enter the NFL, the track record isn’t great.

That last area isn’t necessarily fair, but it’s the honest truth. Henry is coming off running behind a great offensive line, and the Chiefs don’t really have that (though it is improving big time).

Next: Top 5 Running Backs in Chiefs History

Would you want to see the Kansas City Chiefs draft Derrick Henry in the 2016 NFL Draft?

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