Kansas City Chiefs: Four running back targets for 2020

Target No. 4

David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

Several seasons ago, the idea of the Arizona Cardinals parting ways with running back David Johnson would be unthinkable. But times have been rough in the desert, and this season, Johnson is playing for his third different head coach in as many seasons. Worse, he seems to have fallen out of favor with the current regime.

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On October 28th, the Cardinals made a deal with the Miami Dolphins, landing running back Kenyan Drake from Miami. In the three games since that trade, Drake’s had 57 touches while Johnson’s touched the ball only six times.

Johnson’s admitted his role reduction has been hard on him. And while Johnson’s contract protects him for 2020 as far as pay goes, there really is no guarantee that the Cardinals will bring him back. Instead, Arizona may just bite the bullet and go with younger options in Drake and Chase Edmonds, dead-money be damned.

Now, regarding that contract: the Chiefs (or any other team, really) should only go after Johnson if the Cardinals cut him loose. His contract isn’t worth acquiring via trade.

The next issue regards Johnson’s health.

Johnson, who turns 28 in December, had a dynamic 2016 in which he rushed the ball 293 times for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns while catching an eye-popping 80 passes for 879 yards and another four touchdowns. But he played in just one game in 2017 before going down with an injury.

He returned in 2017, but the Cardinals bottomed out that season. Despite that, Johnson still gained 940 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns while collecting 50 passes for 446 yards and three touchdowns.

This year, he’s battled injuries again, but nothing as severe as in 2016 when he missed 15 games. These are more nagging injuries through which he’s tried to play. With some rest after the season, he should be back to 100%. Johnson’s got a lot of tread left on his tires, so to speak.

Of the four options in this article, Johnson is the most intriguing in large part due to his experience as well as his pass-catching ability. Melvin Gordon may be a good receiving running back, but Johnson is far-and-away better. Plug Johnson in next to Mahomes, and the Chiefs offense could surpass its output from 2018.

But first things first: the Arizona Cardinals need to release him.

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In the comments, let me know what you think of the Kansas City Chiefs acquiring one of these four running backs. And if there’s a different running back that you prefer the team nabbing, either through trade, free agency, or the draft, drop a line on who that would be and why you think that.