KC Chiefs should steer clear of trading for Leonard Fournette

By Leigh Oleszczak | Apr 19, 2020

Fantasy Football Running Backs: Leonard Fournette #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The KC Chiefs have been thrown into the mix for Jacksonville’s Leonard Fournette, but they shouldn’t trade for the Jaguars running back and here’s why.

The Kansas City Chiefs run game picked it up when it mattered most last season, but it was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses during the regular season. That’s why Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks the Chiefs should consider trading for Leonard Fournette of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Fournette was selected fourth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. That’s six picks before Patrick Mahomes went to the Kansas City Chiefs after they traded up from pick 27 to acquire their quarterback of the future.

Even though Fournette was a world class talent during his days at LSU, taking a running back that high in the draft raised some eyebrows for sure. Fournette has had two 1,000 yard rushing seasons in his three seasons with the Jaguars, but it appears the team is looking to trade the former first round pick.

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Here was what Florio had to say about why the Chiefs should add Fournette,

"Although Damien Williams had a solid season in Kansas City, the Chiefs lack the kind of threat at running back that would give their offense true balance. Really, given the presence of Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Sammy Watkins, the Chiefs should have more than 1,569 rushing yards as a team, and a leading rusher with more than 498. (Mahomes had 218.)"

While the run game was a problem last season, there are better (and cheaper) options for 2020 and beyond than trading for Fournette. They could use one of their five picks (hopefully they’ll have more selections as draft weekend progresses) on a running back and then would be able to lean on him throughout his rookie deal.

If the Chiefs don’t want to draft a running back, they still have Damien Williams for another year as well as Darrel Williams, Darwin Thompson, and DeAndre Washington. An even more efficient option could be waiting until the draft concludes and signing an undrafted running back to turn into the next star of the offense.

Fournette is talented, but he’s dramatic and with the KC Chiefs’ lack of draft picks in the first place, they’re not in a spot to trade any of those for a running back who is heading into the final year of his rookie deal.

Leonard Fournette would make the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense unfair, but they don’t have the draft capital to trade for him. If they’re going to add another running back in the next week, it should be either through the draft or grabbing a free agent after the draft wraps up.

What do you think Chiefs Kingdom? Would you want the team to trade for Leonard Fournette?

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