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Kansas City Chiefs: Replacing Kareem Hunt not an easy task

By Leigh Oleszczak

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes in the open field against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Running back Kareem Hunt #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes in the open field against the Denver Broncos in the first quarter of a game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on October 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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By now the news of Kareem Hunt being released by the Kansas City Chiefs has sunk in and it’s time for the team and the fans to move forward. Doing that won’t be easy.

After TMZ released the video of Kareem Hunt assaulting a woman on Friday, everything happened quickly for the Kansas City Chiefs. Within hours of the video leaking, Hunt was released by the team that selected him in the third round in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Chiefs made a decision and whether it’s one you agree with or not, Hunt is off the team and for the time being, out of the league all together. Spencer Ware will be the next man up at running back for the duration of the season, which isn’t a bad spot for the Chiefs to be in at all.

What about after the 2018 season though? While Ware is a solid backup for 2018, the running back position is one that fluctuates frequently, usually with younger and cheaper backs who haven’t taken as many hits.

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Ware just turned 27 last week, so he’s not old by any means, but with running backs usually on the decline by the time they’re 30, having him be the predominant starter after this year isn’t ideal. So, what’s the plan then? Well, here are a few options.

  1. Draft – This is the likeliest scenario, as running backs can be taken at any point in the draft and still produce at a high level. Look at undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay of the Broncos as a prime example. He’s having a tremendous season and made it through the entire draft this year without hearing his name called.
  2. Free agency – The biggest names on this list for 2019 are Le’Veon Bell, Jay Ajayi, and Tevin Coleman, but those three would likely require bigger contracts than what the Chiefs would be willing to shell out for a running back.
  3. Trade – This isn’t likely, but you never know.

The Chiefs could also choose to stick with Spencer Ware as their starter moving forward. He carried the load in 2016, just missing out on 1,000 yards, and finding the end zone three times. Ware is a decent starter and has proved that, but the Chiefs will still likely take action in finding another option this offseason.

Running back might an easier position to replace, but Kareem Hunt was one of the best in the league at running the football He was the league’s leading rusher in his rookie year and was on pace for another 1,000 yard season in 2018. That type of production isn’t easy to find.

With that being said, the Kansas City Chiefs did what they felt was best for the organization and now they’ll be searching for a new running back to help their offense next season. Which route will they go with this offseason in finding the next starting running back?

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