5 candidates to be the Chiefs new No. 3 running back in 2021
The Kansas City Chiefs need to add running back depth after they released Damien Williams early on in free agency.
Heading into the 2021 season, Kansas City Chiefs fans know that Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be the starting running back and that Darrel Williams will more than likely earn the backup role.
Edwards-Helaire is heading into his second year as a pro and played well as a rookie despite suffering an injury late in the season.
Williams, meanwhile, earned his one-year contract by stepping in when both CEH and Le’Veon Bell were unable to carry the load for one reason or another. Williams played well in his new role and especially earned his keep in the divisional round against the Browns, rushing for 78 yards in the narrow victory.
Williams probably would have been relegated to a third-string job this year had the Chiefs not made the difficult decision to move on from Damien Williams, the hero of Super Bowl LIV. With Damien gone, that paved the way for Darrel to move up the ladder, but now the Chiefs need a RB3.
Who could they go with? Let’s take a look at some potential options.
RB3 Options for Chiefs in 2021 – No. 5: Elijah McGuire (In-House)
A sixth-round pick in 2017, Elijah McGuire is no stranger to the NFL having started five games for the New York Jets in 2017 and 2018. Since then, however, McGuire hasn’t appeared in an NFL game, but the Chiefs have given him another chance to do just that, as he signed a one-year deal with Kansas City.
RB Elijah McGuire will remain in KC and sign with the #Chiefs on a one-year deal, I’m told by his representation, Agency 1 Sports.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 18, 2021
McGuire has spent the entirety of his Chiefs career on the practice squad and has yet to get in on the action. The reason I’m including him on this list though is that he could be someone the team sees as a viable option. He’s cheaper than going out and signing a big free agent and the Chiefs wouldn’t have to spend a draft pick on a running back.
McGuire as the RB3 seems unlikely barring a slew of injuries to other players, but the Chiefs obviously like him enough to keep him in town, so I decided to include him as an option.