The Kansas City Chiefs brought back Eric Bieniemy to solve their offensive woes. As such, fans can expect the running game to get back on track, with their returning offensive coordinator being a running backs guru.
That probably means that they will look elsewhere for a lead back. Isiah Pacheco has regressed tremendously, Kareem Hunt is aging, and Brashard Smith is more of a passing-down back entering his second season as a pro.
That's why GM Brett Veach should keep an eye on the NFC West. According to Cardinals podcaster Johnny Venerable of PHNX Sports, the Arizona Cardinals could move on from James Conner as a salary cap casualty now that a new coaching staff has arrived.
The Chiefs Need to be All Over James Conner
"Collins and Conner are great locker room voices but all bets are off with a new head coach," Venerable wrote on X.
Conner signed a two-year, $19 million extension with the Cardinals in November 2024. However, at 30 years old and coming off a season-ending injury, he will probably be available for much less if the Cardinals so decide to move on from him.
Cutting Conner would save the Cardinals $7.58 million in cap space. Money shouldn't be an issue for them, as they have $39.1 million in available cap space, according to Over The Cap, but it never hurts to have extra money to spend if need be. That said, they have a budding star in Trey Benson, and with a new head coach in town, they might want to rebuild the roster with guys who fit Matt LaFleur's system.
Despite his age, Conner has always been a reliable workhorse. Before last season, he had played in at least ten games every year. So far, he's piled up 1,393 carries for 6,065 yards and 60 touchdowns, adding 289 receptions on 347 targets for 2,255 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Conner has shown he can excel in goal-line situations. His physicality and ability to pile up yards after contact and run in between the tackles would come in handy for a Chiefs team that might lose both of its primary ball-carriers in the offseason.
Andy Reid's team averaged a pedestrian 106.6 rushing yards per game last season, ranking 25th in the league. Hunt and Pacheco combined for just 1,073 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. To make matters worse, both featured backs failed to average even 4.0 yards per carry.
Conner's best years might be behind him, but he would be a low-cost pickup. He's a proven veteran and a true workhorse, and if the Chiefs can't land a high-end target like Breece Hall because of their salary cap situation, they should strongly consider making a run at the two-time Pro Bowler instead.