Now that they’ve finally brought the Lombardi back to Kansas City, the Chiefs head into the off-season with decisions that will need to be made in order to ensure they’ll be ready to compete for another one in 2020.
After taking a look at the Chiefs quarterback situation, it’s time to examine the Kansas City backfield and the changes that could be on the way for the Chiefs 23rd-ranked ground attack.
Running backs / Fullbacks: (4) – Damien Williams, Darwin Thompson, Darrel Williams, John Lovett (FB)
UFA: LeSean McCoy, Spencer Ware, Anthony Sherman (FB)
The Chiefs run game finished the 2019 season on a high note as Damien Williams once again played his best football during the postseason, especially in Super Bowl 54.
Williams rushed 104 yards on 17 attempts and a 38-yard touchdown that sealed the 31-20 victory over San Francisco.
It’s no question that Damien Williams was an unsung hero during Kansas City’s run to the Super Bowl, rushing for 196 yards on 46 rushing attempts and four touchdowns.
Though Williams isn’t by any means the best rusher in the league and he’s had his inconsistencies during the regular season, the fact he’s played his best football when games matter the most over the past two seasons is an asset for the Chiefs heading into 2020.
Alongside Williams, are two other running backs and a fullback that are currently under contract going into next season.
Darrel Williams got a chance to get some reps in 2019 and showed flashes of potential while rookie Darwin Thompson proved he has some growing to do, despite turning some heads during the pre-season.
Fullback Anthony Sherman will be on the free-agent market unless General Manager Brett Veach brings him back to continue leading the way for Kansas City’s running backs.
Acquired via trade from the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, Sherman has arguably become the best fullback the Chiefs have had since Tony Richardson was leading the way for Priest Holmes back in the day.
If Sherman goes to another team, Kansas City’s only option currently on the roster is John Lovett, who’s shown some promise during training camp but unfortunately wound up on the team’s injured reserve list after suffering a separated shoulder during Kansas City’s first preseason match with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Chiefs have two running backs who will also be on their way to test the open market and it looks like that could be their fate.
Despite playing in a limited role due to his age, LeSean McCoy wasn’t the back the Chiefs hoped he’d be. While he’d show flashes of his former self, fumbles, and lack of production would eventually lead to him fading from Reid’s playbook at the tail-end of the regular season. He was also inactive for most of Kansas City’s Super Bowl run, playing just one snap against the Houston Texans in the divisional round.
Spencer Ware is also expected to head to the free-agent pool after his second stint with the Chiefs lasted just 22 days.
Ware returned to Kansas City on December 3, 2019, after his stint with the Indianapolis Colts ended before it barely got started and he was cut by the team on September 20, 2019.
The Chiefs were hoping Ware’s return would help stabilize the run game and bring more production on the ground.
Unfortunately, Ware’s second stint with the Chiefs would be short-lived as a shoulder injury landed him on the team’s injured reserve list on Christmas day. Ware finished the 2019 season with 51 yards on 17 carries in three games.
Since McCoy and Ware are unlikely to return in 2020, seeing how Veach decides to re-tool backfield will be something to watch this off-season.
Kansas City’s GM could either look to free agency, the later rounds in the draft, or leave the backfield as it is.
Having Damien Williams and Darrel Williams as the top two backs wouldn’t be a bad combo after all. However, a key name in free agency that the Chiefs could get on a cheap deal would be Kareem Hunt.
Hunt was making a name for himself as the next up and coming running back in Kansas City before leaked surveillance footage by TMZ sports showed Hunt was dishonest with the team about a physical altercation he had with a female at a Cleveland hotel during the 2018 off-season.
The footage forced the team to make the difficult, but swift decision to release Hunt on November 30, 2018, for his dishonesty with team officials and to avoid any immediate distractions in the locker room.
The young running back has since struggled to get his career back on track as a member of the Cleveland Browns and has had additional off-the-field issues.
Setting up a reunion with a troubled player like Kareem Hunt would be a risky move for any team, including the Chiefs. However, with the culture that Kansas City has inside their locker room and Andy Reid’s ability to take in troubled players and turn their lives around, not to mention the familiar faces, like Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill, that would welcome Hunt back with open arms, might be what he needs to get his life and career back in the right direction
On a different note, if Kansas City decides to get a running back through the draft rather than free agency, a few names that could be a nice fit if they were to fall to Kansas City include; J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State, Clyde Edwards-Halaire from LSU, and Travis Etienne from Clemson.
Whichever route Veach decides to go in order to revamp the running game, there will be plenty of talent to choose from and it’ll be interesting to see what he does. Personally, I just hope he’s able to hang on to Anthony Sherman.
