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2017 NFL Draft KC Chiefs Scouting Report: Christian McCaffrey

2017 NFL Draft prospect Christian McCaffrey. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2017 NFL Draft prospect Christian McCaffrey. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The KC Chiefs could use a running back to fill the void of Jamaal Charles likely being let go this offseason. Could Kansas City’s first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft be used on Stanford man Christian McCaffrey?

The KC Chiefs aren’t a team that typically goes with a flashy pick in the first round. In fact, their last five picks have been: Defensive lineman (Chris Jones), Cornerback (Marcus Peters), Linebacker (Dee Ford), Offensive lineman (Eric Fisher), and Defensive lineman (Dontari Poe).

The last time the Chiefs went with an offensive weapon in the first round of the draft was in 2011 when they took Jonathan Baldwin with the 26th overall pick. We all know how that turned out.

Why am I bringing this up, you ask? Well, it’s simple.

The kid is a freak on the gridiron and whatever team lands him will be getting an instant playmaker on offense and on special teams.

The Kansas City Chiefs are likely going to part ways with Jamaal Charles this offseason.

Charles was banged up all last season and is going to be 31 at the end of the year. His time in Kansas City has probably come to an end, and Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West showed they were not the answers last season.

The Chiefs must draft a running back in the 2017 NFL Draft, and Christian McCaffrey is not only one of the best out there, but him falling to Kansas City at 27th overall is quite feasible.

Ben Almquist has McCaffrey on his big board and has him slated as a first round talent. If the Chiefs want him, they’ll have to take him in the first round.

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McCaffrey would instantly make the Chiefs running game better and that’s why I’d love to see this pick happen. The Stanford running back rushed for 3,922 yards and 21 touchdowns during his three-year career with the Cardinal, and in all honesty, should have won the Heisman Trophy for his 2015 campaign.

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That season saw McCaffrey run the ball 337 times for over 2,000 yards (2,019 to be exact) and eight touchdowns. He also had five receiving touchdowns and over 1,000 yards on punt returns.

The kid is a freak on the gridiron and whatever team lands him will be getting an instant playmaker on offense and on special teams.

Earlier this offseason, I discussed why I’d want to see McCaffrey in Chiefs red come 2017.

"Personally, I’d love to see the Kansas City Chiefs draft Christian McCaffrey in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s just the type of running back that this team could use, but the question lingering out there is: Is it worth risking a first rounder on a position that fizzles out quicker than most?"

That question still rings true. Running backs aren’t going as high in the draft as they once did back in the day, but McCaffrey is a guy worth gambling a first rounder on. The Chiefs run game may have been ranked in the top half last season, but a lot of that was due to their impressive first half. The second half of the season saw them tank in rushing yards.

Next: All-Time Leaders in Rushing Yards for KC Chiefs

The moral of the story here is that the Kansas City Chiefs need a dynamic running back and Christian McCaffrey fits the mold perfectly. I just don’t see them using their first round pick on a position that is fairly deep in this year’s draft and takes on more wear and tear than other positions.

What do you think, Chiefs Kingdom? Would you be happy with Christian McCaffrey being a member of the KC Chiefs next season?