2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: D’Onta Foreman
By Ben Almquist
The Kansas City Chiefs have an opening at running back. Could D’onta Foreman of Texas take over the starting job?
It was the end of an era for Kansas City Chiefs football when Jamaal Charles was released. While that will illicit feelings from much of the fan base, the front office has a different concern. The Chiefs will need to find a running back who can step in and be a big contributor to the offense. D’Onta Foreman is a talented back who should fit well in the KC offense.
As of now, the starting running back for the Chiefs is Spencer Ware. That’s not a bad option to have, but Ware doesn’t bring the kind of explosiveness that Kansas City needs. A lot of the Chiefs run game is based on misdirection and getting to the outside. However, where Spencer Ware excels is running in between the tackles.
The Chiefs could choose to let Tyreek Hill or De’Anthony Thomas carry the ball more, but I think that would be a mistake. What KC really needs is a running back who can carry the ball regardless of the situation. That’s not the same thing as an “every down back”, but it is close. The Chiefs need someone who doesn’t have to come off the field in certain situations.
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Catching the ball out of the backfield is also an area where the Chiefs need their running backs to be solid. Andy Reid likes to get his backs involved in the passing game, and views screens and short passes as being the same thing as running the ball. So whoever John Dorsey brings in, they need to be a well-rounded player.
And Doak Walker Legends winner Herschel Walker on D'Onta Foreman: "This is a future NFL guy that's going to be doing some big things,"
— Chuck Carlton (@ChuckCarltonDMN) February 17, 2017
D’Onta Foreman – RB – Texas
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You may have been told that D’onta Foreman is a power back (and not a good one). You were told wrong by someone who made bad assumptions based on his weight. The truth is that Foreman is a big play back who runs with patience before exploding through the hole. His running style is much closer to that of Jamaal Charles than it is the bigger backs he’s compared to.
D’Onta Foreman brings excellent athleticism and speed for a man his size. He shows quality lateral movement with a clear purpose to get to the next level. Foreman rarely looses yards for making an ill-advised decision. Almost always falls forward when tackled. Will bounce off of defenders who attack him high. Adequate pass catcher who is dangerous in the open field.
There are very few areas where D’Onta Foreman needs to improve. However, he is lacking as a pass blocker and will need to be coached up. Doesn’t utilize his size enough to power over tacklers in short-yardage situations. Needs to learn to churn his feet before contact. Foreman has also had a heavy workload in college, so his long-term durability may be a concern.
I can’t lie, I laugh when I see analysts and pundits trying to ding D’Onta Foreman for not being what they expected. Foreman was listed at 249 (now reportedly down to 235) at Texas, so many lazy analysts expected a big bruiser. Instead, Foreman makes tacklers miss early before accelerating to the second level. Something Jamaal Charles made a career off of.
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This is really a great year for the Kansas city Chiefs to be looking for a running back. This year’s draft class is loaded with talent, many of whom fit the Chiefs offense very well. A player like D’onta Foreman could have a very productive career in Kansas City. Frankly, I’d love to see what Eric Bienemy could do with him.