KC Chiefs: Way too early list of running backs to target in 2021 free agency

The offseason has begun for the KC Chiefs. Who should the team look to bring in at running back?

The Kansas City Chiefs shocked the league when they spent their first-round pick last year on running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire. It wasn’t that Edwards-Helaire wasn’t worthy of being a first-round pick, but more so that A) the Chiefs had bigger needs and B) running backs don’t go in the first round much these days.

But, the pick had been made, and Edwards-Helaire — who was coming off of a National Championship title with LSU — was joining the reigning Super Bowl champions.

CEH was fine as a rookie, but he definitely didn’t live up to the lofty expectations that fans had for him when he got to KC. He finished his rookie campaign with 804 yards and four rushing touchdowns while hauling in 297 receiving yards and adding a touchdown through the air, giving him five trips into the end zone.

All of this being said, Edwards-Helaire is heading into year two in 2021 and the Chiefs also had to like what they saw from Darrel Williams down the stretch in the regular season. They also could get Damien Williams back, as he opted out this past season, but he might be a cap casualty or even traded. Former sixth-round pick Darwin Thompson is still an option too moving forward.

The Chiefs probably won’t put a huge emphasis on the running back position in free agency, but if they do, here are some names they could potentially add. These wouldn’t be starters, but decent depth pieces who have shown they can step up when called upon.