2017 NFL Draft Kansas City Chiefs Scouting Report: Wayne Gallman
By Ben Almquist
With the release of Jamaal Charles, the Kansas City Chiefs have an opening for the starting running back position. Wayne Gallman of Clemson could fill that role.
After releasing star running back Jamaal Charles this offeason, the Kansas City Chiefs have a hole at running back. There are some options on the roster already that the Chiefs could utilize, but none of them are ideal. If John Dorsey chooses to fill this hole through the draft, Wayne Gallman of Clemson could be an interesting choice.
Last season, the Chiefs relied on Spencer Ware to carry the load at running back. While Ware isn’t a bad option to have , he isn’t the ideal person to be the lead back for the KC offense. Ware is a downhill runner who excels between the tackles. However, the Chiefs offense requires someone that can make people miss and get to the outside.
Where Jamaal Charles truly excelled as a running back was in his ability to make something out of nothing. Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West are talented running backs, but they aren’t known for their elusiveness. That is an aspect the Kansas City Chiefs will need to find in their starting back for 2017.
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Another key factor for the Chiefs offense is the ability of a running back to catch the ball out of the backfield. In Andy Reid’s version of the West Coast Offense, that is a vital aspect. Whoever the Chiefs bring in will need to be able to be a reliable receiver. It is key to that player being able to stay on the field in any situation.
#Clemson RB Wayne Gallman could be drafted higher than people think. Well-rounded if not spectacular. No glaring weakness in his game.
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) March 2, 2017
Wayne Gallman – RB – Clemson
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It’s easy to overlook a player who is on the same offense as high profile guys like Mike Williams and Deshaun Watson. However, Wayne Gallman was a reliable and effective weapon for the Clemson Tigers over the past few years. He is also the type of running back who can find a lot of success in the NFL.
Wayne Gallman is a powerful runner between the tackles. Doesn’t possess top end speed, but is fast enough to get to the outside. He shows decent short area quickness to make sudden moves at times. Fights for yards and brings an excellent second effort to the field. Gallman possesses a nose for the goalline, which he also utilizes in short yardage situations.
On the negative side, Wayne Gallman isn’t the type of running back who makes defenders miss. He isn’t a big threat in space, with neither the speed or elusiveness to turn a short pass into a big gain. While he looks to run through tackles, he has a tendency to fall backwards due to bad balance and running with a straight up posture.
Ultimately, I think the Chiefs should want to pass on Wayne Gallman. While he brings some assets the team might like, Gallman reminds me a good bit of Knile Davis. That running style simply does not work very well in the Chiefs offense. He could be an adequate replacement for Spencer Ware, but that doesn’t seem like a big need at the moment.
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I love this year’s draft class at running back, which is good news for the Kansas City Chiefs. Losing Jamaal Charles is no small thing, so if the team can get a similar back on the roster, that will go a long way. The Chiefs are still very much a running team, so there is no downplaying the importance of who the starting running back is.