Kansas City Chiefs: No need to draft running back in 2018

By Britt Zank | Apr 4, 2018

(Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

The Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of holes they can fill with picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, but running back is not one of them.

When it comes to the Chiefs strength and weaknesses the offense is easily stronger than the defense. The strongest part of that offense is easily the running back position.

To begin, they have the league’s leading rusher from 2017 in Kareem Hunt. He’s a young star on a cheap contract since he is entering just his second year in the league. He breaks more tackles than any other running back while also have soft hands that make him a real threat out of the backfield.

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Behind Hunt they have veterans Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West. West joined the Chiefs in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. Since then, he’s been a solid backup and was the team’s primary third down back in 2017.

Ware joined the Chiefs a year after West in 2015 when he was signed after being released by the Seattle Seahawks. He was the primary backup to Jamaal Charles in 2015 before becoming the starter after a Charles injury in 2016. He was set to split carries with Hunt in 2017 until he tore his PCL in the pre-season.

Those three would make a running back rotation as big as any in the league, but the Chiefs have more. This off-season they have signed from the Miami Dolphins Damien Williams to add even more depth. While not a major weapon, Williams is a player in the mold of West who could be a solid special teamer as well as depth in case of injury in the backfield.

The team also returns fullback Anthony Sherman who was resigned to a new two year contract this off-season. He’s one of the better special teamers on the Chiefs while being the only fullback on the roster and someone who has performed well in an emergency running back role. They also still have Akeem Hunt under contract giving them a total of six running backs on the roster.

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If the Chiefs would want to bring in an undrafted free agent or two after the draft that would be good. Running backs are a dime a dozen so bringing more in is fine, but the Chiefs should not waste a draft pick this year on one. They have so many positions that need help, the idea of drafting a player to be the fourth or fifth running just doesn’t make any sense for the Chiefs this year.

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