Chiefs Must Draft One of These Three Running Backs

It feels like free agency began just yesterday, but the truth is that the 2024 NFL Draft is already less than a month away. The Kansas City Chiefs are currently slated to head to Las Vegas at the end of April with seven selections, leaving the fandom wondering what general manager Brett Veach has in store.

The Chiefs have several positions they'd like to address at the draft, including the running back room. Yes, Isiah Pachecho is returning and Clyde Edwards-Helaire was re-signed this week, but that still leaves Kansas City without a No. 3 option. Even though this year's RB class isn't the strongest, there are still several candidates who wouldn't look out of place in the Patrick Mahomes-led offense.

Whether it's in one of the early, middle, or late rounds, here are three running the Chiefs must target at the 2024 NFL Draft.

Early Pick: RB Trey Benson, Florida State

While I doubt that the Chiefs will draft a running back in the first round, I could see them addressing the backfield on Day 2. If that's the case, Florida State's Trey Benson makes a lot of sense to target.

After a pair of underwhelming campaigns at Oregon, Benson transferred to FSU in 2022. The move worked well for the Greenville, MS native as he went on to amass 1,896 rushing yards, 371 receiving yards, and a total of 24 touchdowns over the last two seasons. In fact, his 15 TDs in 2023 were good enough for second-best in the ACC, playing a key role in his being named to the conference's second team.

Benson is consistently praised by scouts for his downfield running, as well as his ability to find new gears to beat out defenders. He also boasts tremendous speed, highlighted by his 4.39-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Draft Combine. Speaking of which, his combine score of 80 was the No. 1 mark among running backs.

One knock against his game is that Benson isn't a great pass-blocker, but that's fine considering that Pachecho and Edwards-Helaire are more than adequate in that regard.

Unless the Chiefs have another player that they really like in the second/third round, taking a swing on a player as promising as Benson is more than worth it.

Mid-Round Pick: Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Moving on to the mid-round target, Braelon Allen is someone I could see the Chiefs targeting on Day 2.

The 6-foot-1, 235-pound RB has been a consistent presence in Wisconsin's backfield for the last three seasons. Suiting up in 35 games for the Badgers during that stretch, Allen racked up 3,494 rushing yards and a whopping 35 TDs on 597 carries. His reliable scoring ways were further highlighted by his finishing with at least 11 rushing touchdowns each year.

And even tough he isn't known for his hands, Allen still managed to turn 49 receptions into 275 yards.

I could envision the Chiefs using Allen whenever Pachecho needs a break. The Wisconsin rusher offers a big presence and knows how to drive up yards after contact, making him more appropriate to fill in for Pachecho while Edwards-Helaire can be saved more for passing and change-of-pace downs.

Allen isn't a perfect prospect by any means. He's sometimes slow to change directions and has had past ball security issues, but those are problems that can be addressed with coaching. Fortunately, Andy Reid's staff is one of the best in the NFL and can likely get the most out of the 20-year-old RB.

Late-Round Pick: Kendall Milton, Georgia

If the Chiefs want to wait until later in the draft to target a running back, that's more than fine. There will be plenty of RBs available on Day 3, including Georgia's Kendall Milton.

The Bulldogs had a top-20 rushing attack in 2023 and Milton played a big role in that success. The senior rusher had his best campaign to date, recording career highs in carries (121), rushing yards (760), and touchdowns (14). Not only was his TD total enough to rank second-best in the SEC, but his 6.5 yards per carry were also third-best in the conference.

Milton struggles to catch passes, but he more than makes up for that with his ground presence. The Fresno, CA native has been praised for his patience and occasional explosiveness out of the backfield. He's also a decent blocker in the passing game due to his impressive size (nearly 6-foot-2, 225 pounds).

Another thing that makes him an attractive target is that he knows how to win. He's a two-time CFP National Champion and even though the Bulldogs couldn't pull off a three-peat last season, he was still named the 2023 Orange Bowl MVP after racking up 104 yards and a pair of TDs on nine carries.

Considering the Chiefs' recent history of winning, Milton seems like a natural fit in Kansas City.

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