Kansas City Chiefs' 5 Biggest Needs in 2024 NFL Draft
By Joe Summers
5. Running Back
Isiah Pacheco is a rising star in the league, fresh off a spectacular season with well over 1,000 scrimmage yards, but his rushing style does put his body at risk of injury and the Chiefs need some depth behind him.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is a free agent and Jerick McKinnon is a 32-year-old oft-injured back. The Chiefs like Deneric Prince and La'Mical Perine on the practice squad, though there's plenty of enticing options in the latter rounds of the draft as well.
After taking Pacheco in the seventh round and Darwin Thompson in the sixth, Veach has shown a propensity to draft running backs late. Perhaps a guy like Wisconsin's Braelon Allen or Tennessee's Jaylen Wright could make sense as a balance to Pacheco?
Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright has the speed needed to make a big play at anytime. Former track and field star in high school. His PR times:
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 17, 2024
- 55m dash: 6.29 seconds
- 100m dash: 10.85 seconds
- 200m dash: 21.98 seconds
Testing will be huge for him at the Scouting Combine. pic.twitter.com/cQ8KO9AxX9
It's also unclear if the Chiefs intend to keep Pacheco long-term. Running back contracts are fading into obscurity, and Pacheco's violent rushing style could give Veach pause about signing him long-term.
That'd be a sad situation given how beloved Pacheco is in the fanbase, though if Veach is considering moving on from the back at the end of his rookie deal, this is a perfect time to draft his eventual replacement.
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